Sunday, October 31, 2010

Maria Lanakila and Father Damien...

 Maria Lanakila Catholic Church
Most people who travel with me know how much I love taking pictures of churches, and my daughter couldn't wait to take me to this Catholic church that she went to in Lahaina when she had previously been there....It is very old, built in 1846....

Maria Lanakila means Our Lady of Victory...very beautiful for the Hawaiian people...

this is a statue of Maria on the outside of the church...I think she looks alot like my Guadalupe....

This is the inside of the church...it was stunning, light and bright and very peaceful inside...you knew father in heaven resided there......

here is the choir loft....My Daughter Anne said the choir is the most beautiful she had ever heard.....

they have lovely statue's in little alcoves....
and Jesus....then Anne, called my name and pointed to Damien.....
the Mosaic of Father Damien of Molokai.....I had brought Father Damien's book with me to read on Maui in case I had a chance to read, I had recently watched a movie about him, and longed to learn more...and here he was right before me....I would like to tell you a little about Father Damien of Molokai...in case you have never heard of him.......
Father Damien and his choir...
Father Damien came to Molokai to the leper colony in 1873...he came to help the 700 patients that were on the island....the people of Hawaiian islands were sheltered and had not built up the immunities, that the larger countries had...when whalers and shipping boats found the Hawaiian islands and started stopping there they infected the islanders with many diseases, one of them being Leprosy...to stop the spread of the disease the king of the Hawaiian islands along with many church officials decided to take the sick to the distant island of Molokai and nurse them there...
photo of the village after Father Damien built structures
Surrounded on three sides by the Pacific ocean and cut off from the rest of Molokai by 1600-foot (488m) sea cliffs, Kalaupapa provided the environment.The area was void of all amenities. No buildings, shelters nor potable water were available. These first arrivals dwelled in rock enclosures, caves, and in the most rudimentary shacks, built of sticks and dried leaves.

..The ships delivering the infected patients didn't even take them ashore but dropped them off, by pushing them overboard and they had to swim the rest of the way.....it was a mix of women and children, good people and bad, all with different stages of the disease...then in steps Father Damien....

 Damien was the most famous but not the first caregiver or religious worker to arrive at Kalawao. He followed Congregational ministers, Catholic priests, Mormon elders, and family and friends of patients who went voluntarily to Kalawao village to help. Slowly, Kalawao became a place to live rather than a place to die, for Father Damien offered hope. He spoke the Hawaiian language. Assisted by patients, he built houses, constructed a water system, and planted trees. He also organized schools, bands, and choirs. He provided medical care for the living and buried the dead.

He expanded St. Philomena Catholic Church. Now when I say he expanded the church, that is what he did, by himself with what ever supplies he could find...Not a "retiring" personality, Damien did not hesitate to badger the Hawaiian government and his church for more resources. These efforts attracted worldwide attention, resulting in a heightened awareness of the disease and the plight of its victims. He spent all the rest of his years building houses for the lepers to live in....even when Father Damien could have left the island, he volunteered to stay...

Father Damien had lived in Kalawao 12 years when it was confirmed that he had contracted Hansen’s disease. Although the disease is not highly contagious, Damien had not been careful about hygiene. Over the years he had done nothing to separate himself from his people. He dipped his fingers in the poi bowl shared with other patients. He shared his pipe. And he did not always wash his hands after bandaging open sores. There were over 8000 people sent to the Kalaupapa peninsula from 1866 to 1969, being ostracized from the Hawaiian society. Just to think of it, as recent as 1969 people were living in seclusion on Molokai...

Damien was 49 years old when he died April 15, 1889, at Kalawao with Mother Marianne at his bedside. Shortly before his death, he wrote his brother Pamphile, "I am gently going to my grave. It is the will of God, and I thank Him very much for letting me die of the same disease and in the same way as my lepers. I am very satisfied and very happy."  The Islanders lost their strongest voice....

Cheers to Father Damien of Molokai.......

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Chex Party Mix...

It is always a great day to make Chex Mix....but right now with all the football and soccer games it is the perfect snack....but beware once you start, you cannot stop.....

The Original Chex Party Mix

3 cups Corn Chex® cereal
3 cups Rice Chex® cereal
3 cups Wheat Chex® cereal
1 cup peanuts
1 cup bite-size pretzels
1 cup cheez-its
6 tablespoons butter or margarine
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons seasoned salt
3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder


Oven Directions Heat oven to 250°F. In large bowl, mix cereals, nuts, pretzels and bagel chips; set aside. In ungreased large roasting pan, melt butter in oven. Stir in seasonings. Gradually stir in cereal mixture until evenly coated. Bake 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Spread on paper towels to cool, about 15 minutes. Store in airtight container.

gather your ingredients...this is enough to make a couple of batches.....

make the sauce and pour over the mix in your biggest roaster pan or on a deep cookie sheet...your broiler pan that comes with your stove will work also....

spread out to cool on paper towels....

and put in your prettiest and favorite bowl!

Cheers to Happy  !!

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Twice Baked Potatoes...

Twice baked potatoes....these are so special...the great thing about these are you can get them ready ahead of time....just pipe the filling in the shells...put them in the fridge and bring out later to bake....perfect for a dinner party or perfect to serve with everyday meatloaf.....

Twice Baked Potatoes
4 medium potatoes scrubbed and dried
4 ounces or 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar
1/2 cup of sour cream
1/2 cup of buttermilk
2 tablespoons of butter
2 thinly sliced scallions...or green onions
salt and pepper

Bake the potatoes until fork tender....take out of the oven and cool slightly (about 10 minutes) carefully cut the potatoes in half and scoop out the insides, into a large mixing bowl...arrange the shells in a baking sheet...and mash the potatoes, you can use a mixer if you like, add the cheese, buttermilk, sour cream and butter...mash until creamy and add the scallions.....you can spoon this mixture right back into the shells or put in a piping bag and pipe back into the shells...pop back into the oven and bake another 15 minutes, at 500 degrees....

get your ingredients ready, while the potatoes are baking....

scoop the potatoes out of the shell, do not take to much of the potato out it will weaken the shell...careful they are very hot! put in a large bowl and add the rest of the ingredients and mash...mash...mash....

pip the creamy mixture back into the shells...

when you pipe you get all these many, many little grooves and edges....they brown up great!

ready to go back into the oven!

enjoy!

Cheers to Happy  !!

Monday, October 25, 2010

FALL BRINGS APPLE CIDER PRESSING TO MIND...

This is my sister Mary and nephew Matthew....aren't they the cutest in the whole world? Yes Mary is as nice as she looks in these pictures and Matthew is the best, sweetest spirited boy...he is a great helper.....take it away Mary!

We are so fortunate to live in the northwest.  We enjoy the abundant harvest of so many wonderful fruits and vegetables.  I live on a few acres that have been in my family for over 100 years.  The apple trees here were planted in the 1890's.  My Aunt Janet told us on Saturday that some people came through the area all of those years ago saying they were related to Johnny Appleseed.  My great-grandfather was lucky enough to procure some of these trees.  All of these years later they are still bearing fruit.  This year we waited until after the first frost to press apples.  After the first frost it brings up the sugar in the apples and yes it is true.
So we don't have our own cider press and it got a little exciting trying to find one.  I finally went on to Facebook and put out the word that we were looking.  And sure enough right away my friend Bev got in touch and said she thought she could get a hold of her Dad's press.  (he is in his 90's) I can only imagine how old this press is.

We scrubbed it all up and figured out how to make it work,  It is absolutely amazing.  You will see as you follow along with the pictures.

Matthew the most wonderful helped with everything all day.  Here we are putting cheese cloth in the cylinder that catches the crushed apples.  It make it easier to empty as you go along.


We got everything ready that we could think of before our company arrived.  First I should say that part of our family tradition is to have a party for any reason, any time, any where.  So that being said I issued an invite for everyone to come to the hill on Saturday the 23rd.  At high noon.  Bring along a little side dish or dessert.  We served hot dogs.  We got some RSVP's and knew that others would show up.  The morning started off slow and the rain seemed relentless.  I being a little dramatic at times. (not kidding here) thought we should call it all off.  Fortunately before I went completely crazy I called my Aunt Janet.  She was pretty clear about what we should do.  "I got up early and am cooking Corned Beef and Cabbage.  We might not press apples but we will eat" Huh?  Enough said.  The show would go on...

Matthew and I went down and surveyed the trees and apple situation.  As you can see these are very old trees.  This tree fell over a few years ago and has been bearing more fruit than ever before.  Much easier to pick as well.  These trees are the big dog grand daddy Standards.  Only the best for these Swedes.

The chickens just seemed to know what was coming, they made short work of the leavings from the pressing.  The turkeys are destined to be Thanksgiving dinner.  I am trying to win them a little reprieve.  Maybe we should wait until Easter?  Just wondering...

Isn't this wheel beautiful, I felt so lucky to be able to use this.  Thank you Bev!

Did I tell you about the little cockleburs that were climbing in the tree.  My friend suggested I clear these out before next year.  Makes sense.  I will put that on my list. Ha....

Well we all picked apples.  These are the best of times and the things that brings family and friends together ....making memories for all of us.



Team work,  see we all learn lessons here.

Ok we may have had a little lolly gagging going on too.  Hahaha.  You can't see me playing I am behind the camera.


Ok time to get busy. Jody looks happy...

It was quite an operation.  Everyone wanted to help.  Follow along and watch the action.

The apples go from the little trailer in to a water bath in the wash tub and then into the press.


It looks like they were taking one for the team and trying the first taste.  No it was yours truly.  Just needed to show them we would not die,  Oh trust me Yum.  It is the best ever this year.  We passed the cup around all everyone was in agreement. The work was just beginning keep looking.

Hams' both of them.  Aunt Janet and Perry.  Paul is making sure they don't spill any.

Yum...

This is a glimpse in to the hopper very simple but efficient press.

The chickens were delighted with their sweet apple treat.

Melanie was kind enough to be in charge of the bottling station.  I called this area the moshe pit. The walkway was a great place for observing.

Looks like Aunt Janet is giving advice.  Funny.

Jaegar and I thinking we are doing something.  Ha. We look good though.


Sweetest apple cider ever.

Diana documenting the fun.


Jody cleaning up the cider press.  It was the best.

This is Jack.  He was showing us how to eat hotdogs the right way.  You start in the middle!!! Try it.  Why wait around.  Get to it.  Right to the middle where the good stuff is.

Beautiful apples. Old tree.


Time to put the press away and wait for next year and a whole lot of fun on the hill!!!
CHEERS TO HAPPY !!!
OH YEAH BABY!!