OH THE PLACES WE SHOULD GO - CLASSIC ON NOBLE

Classic On Noble

(Written By Sheila Gail Landgraf)

 I wanted to tell you about a very special restaurant I discovered once upon a time as we were traveling through Anniston, Alabama.   It is called Classic On Noble, and it is located, just as the name implies, on Noble Street in Anniston, Alabama.

You will never find a more cozy and quaint dining experience.  This has become a place to go on special occasions for my family.  

We’ve always been for dinner in the evenings, but I’m told that their brunches are amazing, delicious and well attended.  I’ve had the brunch idea marked on my bucket list for awhile, and I know I will find it worth the drive when I get around to it.  Brunch seems to be the rave with the locals for sure. 

 In the meantime, my dinner experiences there have certainly been excellent. 

David and Cathy Mashburn are the restaurant owners.  It seems they were well established in the catering business when they noticed that the old Levy and Clark Building in Anniston’s historic district was for sale.  

The building was constructed in 1894, and had been boarded up and closed off since 1919.  When they first toured the dusty old building full of cobwebs, Cathy thought it was a hopeless case, but David thought it was “perfect.”  David won the disagreement.  Classic On Noble soon became a key element toward the revitalization of historic downtown Noble Street.  Cathy now openly admits that David had the vision from the start, and it has come together just as he imagined; “perfectly.”   

You enter the restaurant from the main street and step into an elegant fresh flowered entrance way that will either lead you back to many beautiful rooms of white linen covered antique tables graced by a lovely grand piano, or you can turn left and go upstairs via a winding stairwell to The Green Olive Room.  The downstairs interior has hardwood floors and is beautifully decorated in an elegant upbeat yet traditional style that compliments the building.  This is where brunch, lunch and some special receptions are held.  There is a station at the foot of the stairway where your hostess will greet you.  You may sign a guest book that is kept there if you like, and you will soon find yourself led to a pretty table and very comfortably seated and pampered by excellent service.

Classic Catering creates wonderful food art for a wedding reception, or any other special occasion.  

They have catered to small and large crowds for offices, events, and special occassions in homes around the Southeast, regularly delivering excellent services to people in Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee.   

They are willing to travel to you, or you may rent the space of their restaurant for your event.   

The last time my husband and I came for dinner a wedding party was just leaving their reception from the front door.  People threw rose buds at the bride and groom as they escaped to the outside sidewalk.  Once the wedding crowd cleared, we were able to enter the restaurant ourselves, walking in over a fresh trail of pink, yellow and red rose petals that had been left behind.  I felt like God had planned the time out for us to arrive just when we did.  It added a bit of whimsy to the time we were anticipating, and made for a great beginning to a wonderful dining experience.

Our table was reserved in The Green Olive, the upstairs upscale bar area that is full of unique original art, antique furniture, vintage chandeliers and beautiful woodwork.    There is an amazing antique chess set in one area, and some of the former wedding party I mentioned earlier, were having a mixed drink and playing a game of chess while waiting on their meal.  

Our cozy table by the window was all very quite though, and that is one of the things I like so much about the place, you can actually have a conversation and hear what the other people at your table are saying. 

The Green Olive Room proclaims selections from a well stocked wine cellar.  The atmosphere of the bar area might remind you of the fact that once there was a time in the early history of the building during the Prohibition era, when the Green Olive Room’s floors were covertly being used to sell alcohol.  There was also live dancing and music back in those days.  Often there were raids by the local law enforcement.  However, no such commotion is happening now.   It is quite the opposite, and there is such a peaceful, elegant, “living-room feeling” in the Green Olive Room.   

We chose an excellent wine from the wine list, although you may also order mixed drinks.   We sipped our wine in the comfort of the pleasant surroundings as our waiter took our order from the delicious choices found on the menu.  I was amused that the waiters have to carry the food up to everyone from the other floors of the building.   The building is three stories high, so I guess this means that every time they bring food they must navigate three flights of stairs.   In spite of this fact, our waiter was very accommodating and didn’t mind making extra trips for our requests.    

There are several menu choices available, and we have tried all of them on different trips.  I’ve found them all to be quite delicious.  The Chef here is wonderful, and adds an elegant, yet southern flair to everything.  I love that.  This girl is not ashamed of being Southern.  

The Nobel Salad is famous, and so is The Wedge, but my favorite salad is the Fried Green Tomato Salad.  It is very tasty, and the presentation is very pretty and unique.    

There are many excellent choices for entrée’s.  My favorites were the Shrimp and Grits, The Stuffed Pork Tenderloin and the Jumbo Lump Maryland Crab Cakes.

Dessert is never the same and changes each time we go.  I especially remember sharing some fried ice cream once that was” to die for.”  Whatever they are offering for dessert is always excellent and there are always plenty of special choices. 
   

I was not surprised to learn that Classic On Noble has been featured in Southern Living, Historical Restaurants of the South, 100 Places to Eat Before You Die, The Anniston Star, The Birmingham News and many other well known publications.  

Nor was I surprised to learn that many famous and well known personalities have enjoyed their fine food.  The list includes former President Jimmy Carter, US Speaker of the House, Dennis Hastert, Congressman, Mike Rogers, former and present Governors from Alabama and otherwise, Amy Grant, the band called Alabama, among many others.  We added some more people to that impressive list by bringing our daughter and son-in-law with us the last time we went.  They loved the restaurant too.

So what are you waiting for?  It is well worth the drive.  

Go for brunch, or an elegant dinner.  

Call them up for your next special catering occasion.   

Check out their website, it has excellent driving directions from anywhere. 

I'm told this is the perfect restaurant to visit during Christmas holidays, because it is always decorated like a winter wonderland. 

Bon Appétit!

  

PEN ART - BENEATH THE TEREBINTH TREE

A short story written by Sheila Gail Landgraf:

He was born laughing.  It is said that his parents laughed when they conceived him.  Even his beautiful mother had to ask God's forgiveness about her laughter over him, but he never thought any of the laughter was wrong.  He loved the laughter! 

It was the meaning of his name - laughter.  He felt the laughter did not happen often enough, and life for Isaac was sometimes very serious and very hard, so when the laughter came it was always timely and welcomed.  It was always good to him, and it was as refreshing as cool water in the desert.  

He constantly longed for more of the laughter.  He sought after it and he was always looking for ways to make it happen again. This was easy with his mother; not quite so easy with his father.  He had learned there was a proper time to bring it forth, and a proper time to let it alone.  This was a day to keep silent.  It was not a day for laughter.

There was no laughter in his father's voice as he told him to gather the wood they would be taking on their journey.  Isaac obediently gathered the wood into his bag.  This wood  was for the sacrifice they would be taking with them when they left tomorrow.  Abraham had insisted on cutting all of the wood himself.  He cut it from some of the branches of the terebinth tree he had planted right outside his tent many, many years ago.  This tree had grown large, strong and tall and had spread its branches in such a way that it shaded Abraham as he gazed upon it from the door of his tent.

Abraham had lived many happy days under the generous shade of this huge old twisted tree.   It had been under the shade of this tree that the three men of God had visited Abraham and Sarah nine months before Isaac's birth.  Abraham had often told Isaac the story.  God had promised Abraham a nation would be his heritage, but Abraham and Sarah had grown old without a child between them.

On that same day of the visit, when Sarah's laughter came at the announcement of Isaac's birth, the same Three Men of God had been on their way to Sodom to destroy the whole town because every single person living there was wicked.  Angels had reported this to Heaven and the prayers of the nearby town's people had risen up to the ears of The Lord over and over again.   Abraham pleaded with God to spare any godly men from the destruction of Sodom; and Isaac's cousin Lot and his family had been spared, except for Lot's wife; who had turned back to remember the carnal things of that city just one last time.

When she turned to look back she instantly became a pillar of salt.  Isaac had been shown the place where she had been changed.  The story had always horrified him, and he shuttered each time he thought of it.  But it had happened the day that God Himself, in the form of  three men, stopped in to visit with Abraham under the tree on His way to this mission.  They all sat together and shared a meal under the very branches of the terebinth tree that Abraham was now using for firewood.

Funny how things happened sometimes, Isaac thought to himself as he gathered the wood.  On their way to put an end to something evil, they had stopped to proclaim something good.  They told Abraham that Isaac would soon be born.  Sarah had heard from inside the tent and that was when she laughed.  Isaac had heard the story over and over again as he grew up.  He didn't mind though.  He always loved hearing it.  He often thought of this story and smiled, even now that he had grown into a man 37 years of age.

Isaac marveled at his father's actions in cutting the branches of the sacred tree.  He did not fully understand, but he had learned to wait for understanding.  Abraham had taught Isaac this virtue long before he grew into a man.  In time Abraham would share his heart with Isaac, and Isaac knew Abraham only did what God instructed him to do.  So Isaac did not ask why.  If God told Abraham to use the branches of the terebinth tree, Abraham would be obedient.  This Isaac was sure of.  Abraham was always obedient, at all costs, and so was Isaac.  This trait also had been instilled in Isaac's character from the first day of his birth.  Isaac knew he was a promise fulfilled, and he must stay true to God because of this blessing.

Abraham had been careful to carry out the covenant promise of circumcision when Isaac was only eight days old.  Everything about Isaac's upbringing had been carefully planned and well thought out by his parents.  So careful even that his mother had insisted he not be allowed to play with his older brother Ishmael when the two were growing up together.  It seemed that Ishmael liked to taunt Isaac, even when he was just a toddler, perhaps their mutual jealousy had started way back then.  This had certainly continued on - and Isaac had seen Ishmael only in short visits with Abraham since that day that Sarah got upset with Ishmael.  Ishmael was thirteen and Abraham had given him a bow and arrow.  He was quite good with it and very precise when he shot.  He had begun a game of shooting his arrows to land just inches away from Isaac as he lay in his crib.  This had happened more than once and it horrified Sarah.    She had insisted that Abraham send Hagar and Ishmael away.  It was a long time after that before Isaac was allowed to visit with Abraham when he took supplies to Hagar and Ishmael.

Isaac remembered one visit with his half-brother when he had just grown to be  a teenager. Ishmael had taunted him again over the issue of circumcision which made them both a part of the covenant with God and Abraham. This was the very covenant that kept Abraham from severing ties completely with Hagar and Ishmael.  The adults were off tending to some other business and the two boys, Isaac a young teen and Ishmael a young man, were sitting around the fire talking. The usual happened; they began to compare themselves as the future heirs to Abraham's covenant with God.  

Ishmael had proclaimed he was most loved since he was circumcised when he was thirteen and Isaac was circumcised as a baby.  Ishmael had noted that Isaac could not refuse as he was only a helpless infant, yet he, Ishmael had made a brave conscious decision to perform the covenant act and had done it in a time of life that was much more painful; so he reasoned that his sacrifice to God was greater and more deliberate than Isaac's.  

Isaac had calmly looked at his half-brother and replied if God desired of him to be slaughtered he would not refuse even to offer up his whole life as a sacrifice.  This was a common practice for the pagans in Ishmael's hometown.  Isaac could still remember the sneer on his half-brother's face upon hearing these words.  Isaac knew Ishmael would never make such a statement, because he would not be brave enough to carry through with it.  Isaac's heart and intent were true.  He truly would lay down his life if God should demand such a thing from him.  From time to time those words haunted Isaac in his dreams.

As Isaac gathered up the wood he continued thinking of the interesting traits of  the terebinth tree.  The tree was a very strong and sturdy oak.  It had deep, deep roots.  It had remained green through all of the droughts of the land.  That tree had provided shade for many a sojourner. It was a resilient tree.  If one of these trees should die or be cut down, it was known that the stump that was left would sprout up and grow new life again.

The tree was so large  that it could be seen from a distance for miles and miles.  It had become a landmark; a way that Abraham had of telling people how to locate his tents.  He had used the tree to mark this place of his home after so many years of wondering.  It was very close to the cave where he had reverently and thoughtfully decided would be the future burial plot for his family.  He was glad the cave was so close to the tree that he had grown to love and admire.  

It had actually been Sarah's idea, to buy the caves at Machpelah.   She had purchased them herself with some of the money that came from her own dowry, explaining to Abraham that she felt sure she had found the very site where Adam and Eve had been buried by God.  Abraham had patiently listened to his wife when she spoke of this.  Other husbands might have ignored this far fetched tale from a wife, but Abraham knew that some times Sarah just knew things.  It defied all logic, but always proved out.  Over the years he too came to believe this story was true. 

 Just as a double check, Abraham had asked God to confirm this fact to him as well as Sarah.  On the day that the Three Men of God came calling Abraham had ran out to kill the fatted calf for their dinner.  The calf had gotten away  and ran from him and Abraham chased the calf through the land.  The chase led him right up to the caves where Abraham beheld Adam and Eve's burial sites with his very own eyes.  He instantly knew God had shown it to him too, and after that he knew the cave was a very sacred place.

When Sarah had first expressed her desire to be buried in this spot beside him one day, he remembered looking at his charming wife and noting that she was the most beautiful woman in all the land.  He had taken in her innocence, her ability to make the world feel right and perfect and her deep wisdom.  The thought of her not being alive was very painful to him.  He had realized long ago that she was blessed with the gift of prophecy and this incident with the cave was yet another proof of it.  He had seen how the glory of God surrounded the tent where she prepared their meals each day.  Her dough never ran out.  She hospitably gave portions of it away to people as blessings as they came and went through the home of Abraham and enjoyed many meals prepared by Sarah.  

Abraham had seen how the lamps lit during Sarah's prayers lasted from Sabbath to Sabbath, never going out during the week, providing light for their home day after day after day.  How was it that God had blessed him with such a wife?  He always marveled at it, even now, in their old age.  He had completely agreed that he and Sarah were to be laid to rest together in the cave near the Terebinth tree of their tent where God had finally established them a permanent home together.  

Isaac did not yet understand how significant the cave was, but he did understand the importance of the tree.  This strong tree stood for everything that God had promised to Abraham. It was an ever present reminder.   The roots were deep and old.  The branches were fruitful and many.  The leaves were full of life.  Abraham had often told Isaac that the tree was sacred.  Yet, just yesterday Abraham had raised his ax to some of the branches of this tree for firewood.  He had chosen it deliberately to provide the fuel for their sacrifice.  He had chosen something of the best from this place of blessings from God and taken something from it to give back to God.  Isaac understood that much of his father's thinking as he carefully filled his bag with the wood and then moved on to help load the donkey.

Abraham had carried a branch of this tree to the land where Ishmael lived and he had planted it beside the well where Hagar worked.  Ishmael had brought some of the wood from that tree too and he began to mix it with the wood that Isaac was hauling.  "Stop!" Isaac almost panicked as he saw what he was doing, but Abraham had come and stood between the two men and allowed the wood to be mixed together.  Isaac was amazed at this, but he said nothing.

Abraham carefully gathered up the fire-pots and the knife for slaughtering the sacrifice.  Eliazer and Ishmael  helped with the food supplies.  They gathered all the necessities they would need to sustain them on the long six day journey.  Hagar had come with Ishmael as he had not wanted her to be alone in his absence.  She had reluctantly submitted to this, hating every minute that she would be stuck in the tent with her former mistress, Sarah while they were away.  

Isaac wished just he and Abraham were going alone.  He did not get along well with his older half-brother, and he knew his mother would not be pleased to be spending the time away with this former slave women.  Ishmael had often reminded Isaac that his mother had been a princes of Pharoah before she had volunteered to be his mother's handmaiden.  Isaac wished she had not been so hasty.  Former princess or not, she always brought trouble to the camp.  When Abraham and Sarah had sent Hagar and Ishmael away when Ishmael was thirteen a miracle had happened.  They had found a pure well in the dessert and had established their home there.  Hagar had provided for them by selling the pure refreshing spring water to people passing through the land.  They had been quite prosperous from this.  Hagar had no need for Sarah's pity now.  She no longer was a slave and she made quite a good living for herself.  Ishmael managed her wealth for her.  She would be there only for a quick visit and then she would be heading  right back to their home again.  She longed to be going with Ishmael and Abraham instead of staying behind while they journeyed off together. 

 Both mothers gazed longingly at their sons as they prepared to leave them behind.

Both boys had grown up constantly seeking Abraham's full undivided attention.  One was always trying to please him above the other, in hunting, in fishing, in building, in growing crops.  Their lives had been one long competition for Abraham's affection.  Now they were both grown men and this situation had not changed.  It never went away.  Perhaps this very competitive spirit had been handed down from their mothers.  Each of these women were also constantly seeking Abraham's undivided attention.  The women did not have room for one another and they despised each other, so much so that Sarah had convinced Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael away, but Abraham had maintained a long distance relationship with them off and on and had always looked after them in spite of the fact that God had made it clear to him that Isaac was the son of promise.

This was something that Sarah had learned to bear quietly in her heart.  Sarah was smart enough to understand that anger and jealousy did not make a woman beautiful or cherished.  Hagar seemed incapable of learning this lesson.  When Abraham moved Hagar and Ishmael away, Sarah bore this grief against them all alone and tried not to share it with anyone.  She knew of the times Abraham went to them with supplies and she secretly wondered what went on between them, but she said nothing.  She had her cherished Isaac.  She lavished him with all the love that a mother had for a son, and she ignored that Abraham was not always in her tent.  She accepted that this whole situation was her own fault and she had asked God to forgive her for it long ago.  She knew in her heart of hearts that Abraham cherished her above all women.  She had tried to make her peace with this situation, but if she was not careful it would always rise up against her.  

Now Sarah knew her son was going away and that woman's son - Ishmael - would be going on the journey too.  This did not please her one bit.  Abraham had tried to prepare Sarah for Ishmael's presence here by explaining the necessity of having good and trusted servants on this journey.   That is what he told Sarah, but Abraham had other thoughts about this too.

He had also told Sarah that he was taking Isaac to the school established by Shem (son of Noah) on Moriah so that he could study Torah and learn all the ways of God from the masters in Shem's school.  It was said that Shem's school carefully guarded the mysteries of God and taught them to only very trusted blessed men.  As much as she knew this would be a good thing for her son, she had an unexplained apprehension about it. She realized these teachings were necessary in order to fulfill the calling and purpose of his life, but she had not been able to rest well because of it.

For some reason she sensed a deep sadness in Abraham's voice that did not sound like the excitement of a father taking his son to learn from the great masters.  Did he not realize how many years this would take Isaac away from her?  She wondered if her husband was telling her everything.  Abraham had been very silent, very quiet and was going off to pray by himself a lot these days.

When evening came Sarah could not rest.  She rumbled through her tent and found the lavish, beautiful garments and turban containing a special stone.  This had been given to her by King Abemeleck.  She had saved them for Isaac one day.  She took them to Isaac and told him to dress himself in them as he appeared before the masters in the land of Moriah.  Isaac, astonished at their beauty, took them and hugged her expressing his sincere thanks.  It was another case in Sarah's life where something good had come from something wrong.  King Abemeleck had not touched her and had honored her marriage to Abraham when he had learned the truth.  He had sent her away with lavish gifts.

After she had given him presents from her greatest treasures, Sarah wept and told Isaac how much she did not want him to go away.  Neither of them could sleep that night and they spent the night just talking of Isaac's childhood and expressing their fond memories of all the good times God had granted them with one another as he grew up.

She would not deny him the special time he was to spend with God which would truly make him a better man; but why was Abraham making this journey so mysterious?  Why did she catch her beloved husband gazing at her with what seemed to be a tinge of tender sorrow.  He had always been so protective of her heart, and she sensed he was somehow wanting to be protective of something yet again; she knew not what.  She dared not ask.  

Sarah had learned to let life happen as it happened.  This had been a hard lesson for her to learn.  She had learned not to question, though it was not her true nature.  After the horrid mistake she had made with that Egyptian slave named Hagar, she had learned to let God fulfill His own blessings in His own way in His own time.

She was sad in her soul about this journey, and she was not excited about this parting, even if it was for  a noble cause in Isaac's life.  Even if the study of the Torah would help to fulfill his destiny, she would miss him terribly! She would also miss Abraham.  Would he come home only to leave again to take Ishmael and Hagar back?  She hoped Abraham would give that task to Eliazer. 

Sarah  knew so much could happen in six days, so much!  A whole world had been created in six days!  It would take them six days altogether to make the journey, three days to climb the mountain where Abraham would leave her beloved son to be schooled, and three days for Abraham to return to her, leaving Isaac behind.   Sarah began to petition her great God to look after them both, her beloved husband and her blessed son.  She reminded God, as she often did, of His promises to Isaac and Abraham.  She prayed that God would provide everything that they needed in every minute of this journey.

She felt the salty tears from the Holy Spirit trickle down her face as she prayed and prayed and she knew God had heard her.  Just that He listened to an old woman like her gave her hope and courage.  She reminded herself of how God had kept His promise to them even when it had seemed impossible.   She smiled sweetly at her husband and her beloved son as they prepared for their long journey.

"Perhaps I should go with you," she remarked to Abraham as they sat around the fire that night.  Because of the dark she had not seen the terror that presented itself in his face.  He could not bear to explain all of this to her.  "No, my princess, you must stay behind this time."  Sarah was silent.  As the fire danced before them she leaned on her husband's chest and pondered how she might walk a way behind them without their noticing her presence.  Yes she was old and frail, but she was also courageous and determined.  Had she not waited 25 years for Isaac to be born?  She had seen God's miracle then and she knew he would protect her now.  After Abraham went to sleep she hastened to pack some food and water for herself, then she lay down beside him to rest for a few hours.

The men left early, even before Sarah woke.  It distressed her that she had not been able to tell her son goodbye again as he departed.  She walked outside the tent only to see the face of Hagar staring at her from the shade of the tree. It was the last thing she wanted to see today.

Sarah quickly gathered her things.  She would not be too far behind them.  The first time that Hagar turned her back Sarah was gone down the road.  She knew the general direction toward Moriah.  It took a few hours before she caught up with the men.  They were shocked to see her and amazed that she had followed them so far.  She ran toward Isaac and hugged him close.  "My son!  Who knows when I will see you again?  I could not let you go without saying another goodbye!"

That is when the tears poured forth.  She wept and Abraham wept and Isaac wept, each of them for their own reasons, each of them in deep pain and agony.  After much weeping Abraham and Isaac convinced Sarah to turn back and wait at home.  She stood in the road watching everything that mattered to her walk away to a place where she could not go.   She had never felt so much pain, as if a knife were cutting into her throat and bleeding all of the life out of her.  She finally could not see them anymore and she turned back toward Hebron.

As she approached her tent she noticed an old man walking behind her.  He saw that she had seen him.  She wondered who he was and why he seemed to be following her.  She stopped, though much afraid and faced him.  He bowed low to her and proclaimed that he had come from the school in which her son was to be a pupil.  She drew a deep breath of relief and asked what his business was.  "I am a prophet and I have come to declare the truth to you that your husband and your son have not told you, I fear you will be terribly upset when I tell you, but your husband has gone to build an altar and there he will sacrifice your son to God.  You will not be able to reach them in time to stop it.  I am sorry to have to tell you this."

Sarah screamed the loudest scram ever heard in any land.  It was the wale of a mother with a broken heart. As she felt the strength of  her life leaving her body she thought she saw a vision of her son cut and bleeding and tied to an altar.  She was too weak to walk back to the tent.  She could not bear this horrible news.  She could not bear to think that Abraham would do such a thing.  Her scream was heard by Hagar, who despite their past came running to her side.

The next words from Hagar shocked Sarah again.  "They have told you, haven't they?"  Sarah's eyes looked an answer for the rest of the sentence.  "They have told you that Isaac is to be the sacrifice at Moriah!"  Sarah fainted and Hagar was afraid that she would be blamed for her death.  She panicked and ran away.  The old man had also mysteriously disappeared from the road.  Sarah was left there alone and unconscious for hours until some friends of Abraham passed by and recognized her and took her to their tent and tried to nurse her back to life.

They watched anxiously as Sarah faded in and out of consciousness, and she talked to them about what God was showing her in a dream.  She mentioned how Abraham would only do God's will and that Isaac would only do what God had required of him.  She once again, even in her dream state, confessed that everything God did was always good, even when she did not understand.  The people were astonished at her testimony and admired her courage as she lay dying of grief.   They knew they had cared for a true prophetess.  Finally, in peace and the hope of God, Sarah having lost all reason for living now, gave up her spirit and passed into the other world.  The people of the village preserved her body and waited for Abraham to pass back through the land so they could give him the sad news that the wife he dearly loved had died.

It was several days before they heard his footsteps on the road.  Men were watching and waiting on Abraham, dreading what they had to say to him.  Abraham was deep in thought as he approached alone.  He was still in awe of what God had done for him and Isaac.  He had painfully walked up to Moriah, Isaac at his side.  Isaac had asked the obvious question; "Father, where is the lamb for the sacrifice?"  Abraham had answered "My son, God will provide the lamb."  It was when he had spoken this that Abraham knew that Isaac knew and understood his destiny.  He had moved on willingly and had not resisted one thing that was done to him.  He only asked that his father bind him tightly so that he would not be tempted in a moment of weakness to jump away.  

As Isaac lay down on the altar he remembered his words to Ishmael that day.  They played over and over through his mind.  He heard those words as Abraham raised the knife to slay him and perhaps Abraham had been slow because of another sound that he heard.  A long loud blast from a rams horn sounded forth.  In the midst of that sound Abraham had thought he also heard Sarah screaming and he hesitated for only a moment, but a moment was just enough time for him to hear the Angel say "Stop!"  

And the Angel assured Abraham that everything that God had required of him had been proven and he need not sacrifice the boy.  Suddenly he had seen a ram caught in the thicket.  He quickly untied Isaac and together they sacrificed the lamb that God had provided.  A day of sadness had become instantly a day of joy.  

Abraham had left Isaac with the great Masters to learn the secrets of Torah and he had hurried home to Sarah and he was full of thankfulness and excitement.  He could not wait to share this story with his beloved wife.

His countenance quickly changed as the men stopped him with the tragic news of  Sarah's death.  Abraham, only hours ago had escaped the greatest grief he thought he would ever know, but now he realized that Sarah's death would leave him only half a person.  He was not sure how he would go on living without her.  The men who had met him in the road saw him age 20 years in his appearance from the short walk from where they found him to the place where they had laid Sarah.

Abraham took his beloved wife and buried her in the cave at Macphelah, just as they had discussed when  Sarah was living.  He knew God would look after her there and it was a way for him to fulfill one last wish from her.  

With a broken heart he went to sit alone under the terebinth tree and he mourned for days.  Finally he lifted his head and rode out toward the dessert.  It would be a long time before Isaac returned, and Abraham could not bear to stay in Hebron without him.  

MONDAY WEEKNIGHT MENUS - MAKING COOKING AT HOME EASY

MAKING COOKING AT HOME EASIER

(Written by Sheila Gail Landgraf) 

MONDAY WEEKNIGHT MENUS – NO. TWO

It is almost Christmas and life is taking on a whole new dimension in the realm of things to do! 

Cooking can become just a hassle if you are not careful; there are so many other things to be taking up your time and filling up your “to-do” list. 

I’ve found a perfectly simple solution this year!  I’ve broken my “out of the ordinary” chores during the Christmas Season down into baby-steps that fit into the twelve days of Christmas.  That makes getting all of those things you have to do to get ready so much easier and actually a lot more fun. 

Because you are primarily focusing on one thing and one day at a time, this can be a real stress reliever.  For instance I have twelve rooms in my house to clean thoroughly and prepare for Christmas.  I just picked a room a day for the next twelve days starting with the hardest and working my way down to the simplest.  I’ll only do one a day.  That won’t take long! 

Also, to get a jump on things I’m actually starting 14 days before Christmas instead of twelve, because by the time Christmas Eve and Christmas Day arrive – I want to be completely chore free and have lots of time to enjoy the holidays.  So go on and make your list for the next 14 days and include all the hardest parts of getting ready for the big day one at a time under each day for the next twelve days.  You will feel the joy returning and the stress dissolving into thin air! 

To help even more, here is yet another easy, all planned menu idea for one of your week day meals leading up to Christmas.  No menu planning and no recipe chasing!  Just gather the items shown in the ingredients sections and prepare.  I’ve done the planning for you.  Merry Christmas!  (Don’t forget to print this page and include it in your binder that will turn into an easy meal planner for every day of your next year later.)

These recipes are designed to make week-night meal choices and planning easier and more delicious. I call these "use everyday" recipes. They will feed a family of four, so adjust your ingredients and measurements accordingly. Most of the recipes (except the desserts) are chosen with health and nutrition in mind.  If you are trying to watch your weight - leave off the deserts and the bread and cut the cheese portions in half!  Otherwise, enjoy making these pre-planned, nutritious and healthy menus for Winter:

TODAY’S MENU: Crunchy Pea Salad, Good French Bread, Tortellini Spinach Casserole, Balsamic Tomatoes and Asparagus, Strawberry Pie

GOOD FRENCH BREAD

 Ingredients:

12 slices French bread

¼ cup olive oil

3 Tablespoons minced parsley

 Directions:

Use a serrated knife to slice the French bread and place on a shiny cookie sheet.  Brush both sides of the bread slices with olive oil.  Sprinkle parsley on top.  Toast each side under the broiler for 2 to 3 minutes, or until golden. Watch carefully so they don’t burn.

CRUNCHY PEA SALAD

Ingredients:

½ cup sour cream

¾ cup green onions (chopped)

1 cup thinly chopped cauliflower

¾ cup Hidden Valley Original Ranch Dressing (dry)

1 cup pecans (chopped)

1 cup celery (chopped)

1 bag of fresh frozen English peas

2 teaspoons Dijon Mustard

1 pkg. Bacon Bits

 Directions:

In a small bowl add the dressing, sour cream and Dijon mustard and stir until well blended then set aside.  Thaw peas enough to mix - make sure any extra liquid is drained (use canned peas if you don't have fresh frozen).  Combine peas, celery, cauliflower, pecans and onions in a large bowl.  Toss the dressing together with the salad and chill covered for at least one hour. Top with the bacon bits and serve.

TORTELLINI SPINACH CASSEROLE

Ingredients:

2 packages (10 ounces) frozen cheese tortellini

1 pound sliced fresh mushrooms

1 teaspoon garlic powder

¼ teaspoon onion powder

¼ teaspoon pepper

½ cup butter, divided

1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk

1-8 ounce bag cubed cheese (your favorite flavor)

3 packages (10 ounces) frozen chopped spinach (thawed and squeezed dry)

2 cups (8 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

Directions:

Cook tortellini as instructed on package.  Saute mushrooms, garlic powder and onion powder and pepper with ¼ cup of butter in a large skillet until mushrooms are tender.  Remove from skillet and keep warm.  Using the same skillet again combine milk and remaining butter.  Bring to a gentle boil.  Stir in cubed cheese.  Cook and stir until smooth.  Drain tortellini.  Place in a large bowl.  Stir in the mushroom mixture and the spinach.  Add cheese sauce and toss to coat.  Transfer to a greased 13 inch x 9 inch baking dish.  Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.  Cover and bake at 350 degrees until heated through and cheese is melted.

BALSAMIC TOMATOES AND ASPARAGUS

Ingredients:

1 pound asparagus, trimmed

2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil

1-1/2 cups halved grape tomatoes

1/2 teaspoon minced fresh garlic

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

1/4 teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons crumbled goat cheese

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Directions:

1. Cook asparagus in boiling water for two minutes or until crisp-tender. Drain.

2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add tomatoes and garlic; cook for minutes. Stir in balsamic vinegar and cook for three more minutes. Stir in salt. Arrange asparagus on a platter; top with tomato mixture. Sprinkle with crumbled goat cheese and pepper.

STRAWBERRY PIE

Ingredients:

1 quart whole strawberries

½ cup confectioner’s sugar

1 cup water

1 cup sugar

Dash of salt

3 tablespoons cornstarch

3 tablespoons strawberry Jello

Pillsbury Prepared Pie Shell

Cool Whip Topping.

 Directions:

Wash and trim stems from 1 quart of fresh strawberries. Add ½ cup confectioner’s sugar. Set aside.  Put 1 cup of water, 1 cup of sugar, dash of salt and 3 tablespoons of cornstarch in a saucepan and boil until thick and clear.  Add 3 tablespoons Strawberry gelatin. Stir well and set aside to cool.  Place whole strawberries into the baked and prepared pie shell. Pour the cooled filling over the strawberries and chill.  Top with a dollop of Cool Whip before serving.

Enjoy your days leading up the Christmas!

SEASONS - THE THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

PRAYER FOR THE THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Incline Thine ear to our prayers, O Lord, we beseech Thee; and make bright the darkness of our minds by the grace of Thy visitation.  Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.  Amen.

Today’s candle symbolizes love.  

When we think of love, we are reminded of the joy that is found in the hearts of all those who love God and rejoice when they hear of The Messiah.   

God sent an angel to make the announcement to the Shepherds who were tending their flocks in the fields.  The angel told them where to find Jesus and they quickly obeyed God and joyfully went to look for Him.  They believed in the Word of The Lord and they wanted to see the Savior of the world who had come humbly in the form of a child.  

Are you like these shepherds?  

Do you believe?  

Are you seeking the truth of the words of the Angel of God? 

 Are you looking for the Christ child to come?

It is believing God, seeking His truth and obeying His word that leads us down the path that brings us straight to love and joy.

Why do you think God spoke to the shepherds instead of a king?  

It was the shepherds that He used to proclaim His good news to the world, not the rulers of the nations.  

Are you a shepherd too?  

Do you have the blessing of a shepherd in your life that has helped you to hear the good news?   

We should thank God for all the Good Shepherds out there who are spreading the wonderful news of the gospel, and we all should aspire to do our part - to spread the love of God throughout the land as we continue through the wonderful season of Advent.

Remember!  He is coming! 

AN APPLE A DAY- HOMECOOKING MENUS AND RECIPES

365 DAYS TO A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE – MAKING COOKING AT HOME EASIER

(Written by Sheila Gail Landgraf)

WEEKNIGHT MENUS – NO. ONE

Don't let the Christmas rush keep you from preparing healthy meals at home for your family. You want everyone healthy and feeling fine when the big day arrives!  This article might help eliminate some of the stress of meal planning during such a busy season.

If you can manage to do so, cooking at home is always healthier, tastier and more enjoyable.   I would like to encourage you to make that a healthy goal for 2017!  Even if you are not cooking especially for health, just having the natural ingredients that you produce yourself instead of buying pre-packaged and boxed items to cook from or making the even worse choice of fast food will drastically improve your chances for better nutrition.

I like to create weekday meals from simple yet delicious recipes that I've gathered over the years from here and there and everywhere.   One of the hardest parts of cooking at home is planning out the menus, knowing what ingredients you must have on hand to cook them, and then chasing down your favorite recipes which might be scattered around a million places over your home and office.  These upcoming columns are about putting those recipes together in one place, having workable menu selections for each day and having a quick reference to the ingredients needed.  I’ve tried to simplify that process for you in these easy to cook, already planned and coordinated menus and recipes I am just beginning to post in this blog section under the sub-title of  MAKING COOKING AT HOME EASIER.  These articles will be like sub-sections to the 365 DAYS TO A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE blog posts.  

All of these menus may not be perfectly healthy menus, depending on what you are trying to accomplish in your daily diet.  You will need to monitor and add and subtract according to your own needs and goals.  The healthy part of these choices is that they will be HOMEMADE BY YOU from pure natural ingredients that you have hand picked yourself.  That change alone is an improvement in health for most people.  

The other healthy part of this column is that it will cut down on the stress of meal planning for you.  Eliminating stress is always healthy!  

So when you see a menu you like; print it out, three-hole punch it and stick it into a binder that will eventually turn into a new cookbook!  Your binder will eventually be filled with delicious new meal plans and recipes if you keep it up every week.  Just select the menu that suits you for the day and purchase the ingredients and cook.  What could be easier?  I’ve done the planning for you.  I’ll probably be posting these now every MONDAY, so look for them on Mondays in the IN SEASON blog at dancinginseason.blogspot.com.  This is my free gift to you for 2017 – Merry Christmas and enjoy!

HELPFUL INFORMATION:

Sometimes I make my desserts ahead of time on the weekends and serve from them all during the week, and sometimes we are only eating desserts on the weekends and watching our calories during the weekdays.   On those days I just leave off the dessert from the menu and buy for the other recipes.  Add or subtract with whatever fits your situation.  You will not want to make EVERY dessert, but I've included on in most every menu, just in case you do.  

NOTES ABOUT TODAY’S MENU:

I think you will like today’s choice of an entrée for your meal if you are trying to eat healthy. 

The recipe is actually a copy-cat recipe from one of our favorite restaurants.  If you haven't been to Taziki's yet; you are missing a treat!  Go!  They also have a great take-out meal plan if you do not have time to cook.  Just call ahead and order and pick up a whole family meal at the end of the day.   They have great healthy choices, unlike most take-out restaurants. 

The bread recipe I’ve included in today's menu is an old family favorite I often use on special occasions.  It disappears quickly!  It is NOT low-cal!   I just leave this recipe off if I’m avoiding eating bread (which is most of the time) and I serve the bread recipe with this meal on special occasions.  It is a great combination if you need something fast and easy to cook for an unexpected guest at dinner time.  

If you want a little something extra to go with this when you decide to eliminate the bread and dessert, just serve up some very cold green lettuce on the side with a homemade salad dressing, and you will be right on track and you will also be completely satisfied at the end of your meal.  If you are eating for nutritional value I suggest you make the salad out of watercress.  See the nutritional value of water cress here:  http://dancinginseason.blogspot.com/2016/07/an-apple-day-knowing-value-of-foods.html.

The Pumpkin Cheesecake recipe is one of those recipes that you will CRAVE in the winter.  I start wanting to taste it around Thanksgiving and my craving for it lasts right through Christmas time. If you have a day on your diet when you can eat whatever you want, try it; you will love it!

So today’s menu is:  Savory Party Bread, Mr. Traziki’s  Pasta Special and Pumpkin Cheesecake

SAVORY PARTY BREAD

Ingredients:

1 Unsliced round loaf of sourdough bread (1 pound)

1 pound Monterrey Jack Cheese

½ cup Butter, melted

½ cup chopped green onions

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°. Cut bread width wise into 1-in. slices to within 1/2 in. of bottom of loaf. Repeat cuts in opposite direction. Cut cheese into 1/4-in. slices; cut slices into small pieces. Place cheese in cut sections.  In a small bowl, mix butter, green onions and poppy seeds; drizzle over bread. Wrap in foil; place on a baking sheet. Bake 15 minutes. Unwrap; bake 10 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Yield: 8 servings.

MR. TAZIKI’S SIGNATURE PASTA SPECIAL

(This is the copy cat recipe for Taziki's Friday night special that we all love so much)

(Serves 6)

Ingredients:

 3 tablespoons fresh thyme, chopped

1 tablespoon shallot, minced

½ cup balsamic vinegar

Juice from one lemon

1 teaspoon sugar

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 ½ cups blended olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

6 cups mixed lettuce

1 ½ pounds penne pasta, cooked

6 boneless skinless chicken breasts, grilled and cubed

2 cups feta cheese crumbled

3 tomatoes seeded and diced

1 handful fresh basil chopped

To make vinaigrette: Mix thyme, shallots, balsamic vinegar, lemon, sugar, Dijon mustard. Slowly whisk in oil. Add salt and pepper.

For Pasta/Salad:  Place about 1 cup mixed lettuce on each plate. Toss cooked pasta with 12 ounces (or to taste) vinaigrette.  Toss grilled chicken with 6 ounces vinaigrette.  Spoon approximately 3 cups pasta onto lettuce, then add chicken.  Top with diced tomato, feta cheese and fresh basil to taste.

PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE

(I collected this recipe from  Kent Rathbun of Abascus Restaurant and it is delicious!)  Makes12 servings

12 ounces granulated sugar

2 ½ pounds cream cheese

5 each whole eggs

11 ounces pumpkin puree

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 tablespoon corn starch

4 ounces sour cream

1 teaspoon cinnamon, ground

1 teaspoon ginger, ground

½ teaspoon cloves, ground

1 teaspoon nutmeg, ground

Directions

1.  Place the sugar in a large mixer with paddle attachment.  Add cream cheese and mix until smooth, scrape the bowl.

2.  Add the eggs slowly with the mixer on the first speed. Very important not to over beat the eggs into the mixture because will cause cheesecake to souffle and break.

3.  As the eggs are being incorporated scrape the sides of the bowl to keep mixture very smooth.

4.  Add pumpkin puree, vanilla extract, lemon juice, cornstarch, sour cream, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and nutmeg , scraping the bowl between each addition. Never allow mixture to be beaten.

5.  Pour into prepared pans or molds and bake in a 275 degree oven. Use water bath when possible, allow to bake until middle is set and slightly souffléd.

6. Turn the oven off and allow the cheesecake to fall in the oven slowly, then allow to cool to room temperature before placing in the cooler. (Cheesecake will crack if placed in the cooler when too warm.)

7.  Once chilled thoroughly then can be un-molded. (Warm sides of the mold with a torch and cake should slide out)

Gail's Tip:  I always turn the oven off and allow the cheesecake to sit for an hour, then I crack the oven door about one inch and allow it to sit another hour.   I take it right from there and wrap in plastic and store in the refrigerator until time to place on serving dish.   This keeps the cheesecake from cracking and deflating before you serve it.   They always turn out pretty this way.   I don't use a torch myself to unmold, though it would probably be a good idea.   I've found that spring-formed pans work great!