Latest Articles

vertical horizontal
  • Politics Is Like Hiring A Hitman
    by Scott Woods inPolitical on2020-08-13

    For me, politics is like hiring a hitman. I have values and things I care about. I care enough about them to at least bother voting for 5 minutes every year for one issue or another. And because I care at least that much, I vote for people who align with the ability to realize the things I care about.

    Read More ...

  • Punching Above Our Weight
    by Roger Madison Jr. inPolitical on2020-07-24

    I believe our vote is the punctuation of our voice. Without that resounding exclamation mark, I believe our voices are just incoherent noise.

    Read More ...

  • BLACK PROGRESS AMIDST SOCIAL CHAOS
    by Roger Madison Jr. inPolitical on2020-06-16

    Recent events have raised the profile of historical injustice and inequities here in the USA. The entire world has taken note of the fact that BLACK LIVES MATTER.   We invite all of our friends to engage in actions that result in the greatest movement for change in our history. It is imperative that we take advantage of this opportunity to affect a positive change by ACTING IN OUR SELF-INTERESTS.

    Read More ...

  • Living in a Black No-Man's Land
    by Roger Madison Jr. inOur Community on2019-10-28

    There are many narratives that define the Black experience in America in this 2nd decade of the 21st century. Our striving over the centuries of our sojourn in this nation is a tapestry of every human experience -- oppression, enslavement, forced assimilation, dehumanization, exclusion, segregation, isolation, struggle, perseverance, achievement, excellence, celebration, mourning, despair, progress, setbacks, lynching, assassination, genocide, terror, self-hatred, low esteem, pride,...

    Read More ...

  • Fighting Racism
    by Scott Woods inOur Community on2018-10-25

    I had a boss who was racist. Not an outright bigot, of course; her toolbox was more subtle than most. We bumped heads a lot over inconsequential things. She frequently couldn’t keep my name out her mouth. Lot of gaslighting. You know…2018 style. I tried a lot of ways to combat or navigate her issues. None of them worked, and that’s saying a lot because I’m really good at fighting racism. But at the end of the day – every day – she was my boss, I had to deal with her, and that was that. Finally I...

    Read More ...

Turkey Burgers - Mini Mac & Cheese ... Book Review

Turkey Burgers - Mini Mac & Cheese Recipes from Bread & Wine - Book Review I am sharing two recipes from Bread & Wine a love letter to life around the table with recipes by Shauna Niequist. The book also list a few dessert recipes as well.

Turkey and Macaroni & Cheese are one of my favorites.

 

Turkey Burgers Adapted from O, The Oprah Magazine

Ingredients:

1/4 cup scallions, thinly sliced

1/2 cup celery, finely chopped

3 Granny Smith Apples, peeled and diced

Please Support Our Advertiser Advertise Here

 

Olive Oil

4 pounds ground turkey breast

1 tablespoon salt

1 tablespoon black pepper

2 teaspoon Tabasco

Juice of 1 lemon

1/2 bunch parsley, finely chopped

1/4 cup mango chutney

Special sauce:

1/2 cup mango chutney

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cup ketchup

2 dashes Tabasco, or to taste

Instructions:

Saute' the scallions, celery, and apples in olive oil until tender.

Let cool.

While the mixture is cooling, make the special sauce. Mix chutney, mayonnaise, ketchup, and Tabasco. Adjust for heat and then refrigerate until serving time.

Place the ground turkey in a large mixture bowl. Add saute'ed items and the remaining ingredients.

Shape into 12 burgers.

Refrigerate for 2 hours.

Place on a preheated, lightly oil grill set to medium-high heat. Grill each side for 7 minutes until meat is thoroughly cook. Let sit for 5 minutes.

Makes: 12 burgers

When Oprah visited Donald Trump at his famous Palm Beach house, Mar-a-Lago, his Chef served these amazing turkey burgers. She asked for the recipe because they were the best turkey burgers she'd ever had.

The burgers take a while to assemble, so don't try to prepare them before your friends come over for a barbecue. Make them the night before, and while you're at it, make a double batch and freeze half of them.

Most grocery stores carry mango chutney in the international ethnic aisle. The secret ingredient in these burgers is mango chutney. When you find it, stock up-get on jar for this recipe, another for chicken salad, and one for serving with cheese and crackers.

Mini-Mac & Cheese from Food & Wine & another Food & Wine macaroni cheese

Ingredients:

1/2 pound elbow macaroni (or 4 cups cooked)

2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

2 tablespoons butter, plus more for pan

1 tablespoon Dijon

2 dashes Tabasco

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 egg yolk

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Smoked paprika

Instructions:

In a pot of boiling water, cook the macaroni, for about 5 minutes, to just al dente, which is just a touch firmer than how you would like to eat it. Drain.

Brush mini muffin pan with melted butter, then sprinkle half the grated Parmesan into the muffin cups.

On medium-low heat, warm butter and cheddar cheese, and whisk till smooth.

Off heat, add Dijon, Tabasco, egg yolk, and whisk again.

Add macaroni and mix well coated with cheese.

Spoon into muffin cups, making them slightly rounded and packing them lightly. Top with grated Parmesan.

Bake at 425 degrees for 12 to 14 minutes, until golden on top.

Let cool at least 10 minutes before serving, because they will set as they cool. Sprinkle with smoked paprika.

Serve warm or at room temperature.

Be generous when you dust the Parmesan, both in the empty cups and on top, because that's what holds them together - that and the egg yolk.

These can be made gluten-free by using brown rice or corn pasta. Watch the cook time on the pasta, as gluten-free pasta seems to be a little more unpredictable than conventional pastas.

I was sent an advance review copy of this book from Zondervan.

Shauna Niequist is the author of this book as well as of Cold Tangerines & Bittersweet. She lives outside of Chicago with her husband, Aaron, and their sons, Henry & Mac. Shauna writes about family, friendship, faith, and life around the table.