Holiday-Worthy Recipes
And a Heart-Warming Story to Boot
Katie: What have you nestled under the tree for your dear ones this year? A new sweater? A pair of earrings? Or--like the gift I received from my husband last year-- a 15" sub-woofer? (What is that for anyway?...Or maybe the better question is who?). Sometimes a good story can be a beautiful gift...which is how I feel about the story below. I love you, Mom.
BRENDA
Barb: She's taken me from long to short, layered to stacked...and
everything in between. We did brunette. And then we did
auburn (and went quickly back to brunette). At some point during
the fifteen years I've known her, I went from not gray to...well...you
know. And she was kind enough to not mention it. She just fixed it.
Brenda is not just my hairdresser. She's become one of my closest friends.
We've shared everything from the joys and sorrows of motherhood to
recipes and prayer requests.
I had an appointment with Brenda shortly after I learned of my
cancer. I sat in the waiting area, absently flipping the pages of a
Vogue magazine...somehow fashion didn't seem that important
anymore. Brenda called me over, and motioned for me to sit
down--but I asked if we could go to the back and talk for a minute. She
led me down a corridor, and we stepped inside the shampoo room. When
I told her the news, she pulled me to her, and hugged me tight...for a long,
long time. Then she whispered that everything would be all right. And somehow,
I believed her. Anyone who colors hair as well as she does must know about
these things. We went back to her chair, and I told her about my plan. I
explained that if I ever had to take chemo, I wanted her to cut my hair to the scalp
so I could donate it to Locks of Love.
She was standing behind me, hands on my shoulders, both of us
looking into the mirror, when she vowed that if we ever had to cut
my hair, then she would cut hers too. "Solidarity," she said.
"Kleenex," I said.
And a Heart-Warming Story to Boot
Katie: What have you nestled under the tree for your dear ones this year? A new sweater? A pair of earrings? Or--like the gift I received from my husband last year-- a 15" sub-woofer? (What is that for anyway?...Or maybe the better question is who?). Sometimes a good story can be a beautiful gift...which is how I feel about the story below. I love you, Mom.
BRENDA
Barb: She's taken me from long to short, layered to stacked...and
everything in between. We did brunette. And then we did
auburn (and went quickly back to brunette). At some point during
the fifteen years I've known her, I went from not gray to...well...you
know. And she was kind enough to not mention it. She just fixed it.
Brenda is not just my hairdresser. She's become one of my closest friends.
We've shared everything from the joys and sorrows of motherhood to
recipes and prayer requests.
I had an appointment with Brenda shortly after I learned of my
cancer. I sat in the waiting area, absently flipping the pages of a
Vogue magazine...somehow fashion didn't seem that important
anymore. Brenda called me over, and motioned for me to sit
down--but I asked if we could go to the back and talk for a minute. She
led me down a corridor, and we stepped inside the shampoo room. When
I told her the news, she pulled me to her, and hugged me tight...for a long,
long time. Then she whispered that everything would be all right. And somehow,
I believed her. Anyone who colors hair as well as she does must know about
these things. We went back to her chair, and I told her about my plan. I
explained that if I ever had to take chemo, I wanted her to cut my hair to the scalp
so I could donate it to Locks of Love.
She was standing behind me, hands on my shoulders, both of us
looking into the mirror, when she vowed that if we ever had to cut
my hair, then she would cut hers too. "Solidarity," she said.
"Kleenex," I said.
Katie: Perhaps the greatest gifts we can give are those that come from the heart. A sacrifice for someone we love can be a gift--especially when it takes us beyond our comfort. Even a simple meal, prepared with love, can be a gift. We hope you enjoy our holiday recipes below. May God bless your family, and may your Christmas be filled with gifts from the heart.
Love, Katie and Barb
APPETIZER: OLIVE SALSA
Love, Katie and Barb
APPETIZER: OLIVE SALSA
Healthy and delicious can now live in harmony. This salsa boasts lycopene-rich fire roasted tomatoes, and everyone's favorite dip ingredient: the beloved black olive. Make a big batch...'cuz it's gonna go fast. Serve with Tostitos whole grain chips. See recipe here.
ENTREE: LAURA'S GARLIC-ROSEMARY TENDERLOIN
Katie: This is the perfect dinner party entree...moist, flavorful, and a cinch to make. The combination of garlic and rosemary tastes like heaven, and makes the house smell amazing. This recipe was created by Laura, a dear friend and gifted chef. Click here for recipe.
Katie: This is the perfect dinner party entree...moist, flavorful, and a cinch to make. The combination of garlic and rosemary tastes like heaven, and makes the house smell amazing. This recipe was created by Laura, a dear friend and gifted chef. Click here for recipe.
DESSERT: CARAMEL PUDDING
The coconut palm sugar in this dessert gives it a rich caramel flavor, and is a healthier option than table sugar due to its low glycemic level. This pudding is not overly sweet, and goes perfect with an aromatic cup of hazelnut coffee. Can be served alone, or topped with toasted almonds and dark chocolate glaze. See recipe here.
We hope you enjoy the recipes! In the last two weeks, our non-profit food blog has had 4,000 page views, and has made its way to Singapore, Australia, and the UK. Thank you, THANK YOU, for sharing our link, and for helping us to help others. Share on, dear friends!
Love, Katie and Barb
NEXT MONDAY'S BLOG: SKINNY DIPPING (don't ask. just read.)
Want to eat for your life, but don't know where to begin? Try clicking here, where we have listed 7 simple ideas for making that first step. Add one new idea per week, or one per month...it's up to you!
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