My Nun Story: Defending America's First Feminists

Ingrid Bergman in 'The Bells of St. Mary's'

Two evenings ago on David Letterman's show, guest Jon Stewart, discussing Bill O'Reilly, referred to him as the 'skinniest kid in fat camp' and/or the, and I quote, 'the sluttiest nun in the convent.' The audience laughed as did Stewart and Letterman. And I ask, where's the outrage?




How many movies do we go to where a nun or group of nuns are portrayed as goofy simpletons? Then there's the evil nuns depicted in a 2009 a movie called 'Nun of That' which was acclaimed as one of the best indie films since Slumdog Millionaire and another with Lindsay Lohan appearing as nun licking a gun in a controversial poster for the movie Machete opening this month. Luckily these movies have limited appeal but just the fact that these obviously anti-Catholic movies are out there and not getting as much publicity as the mosque at Ground Zero or any incidents of anti Semitism or anti-Muslim sentiment get is really astounding!  The Bells of Saint Mary's and The Sound of Music are so 20th century I guess! 

Letter to Ursulines from Thomas Jefferson

My question is this: why nuns? Is it just that they're easy marks? That they turn the other cheek? I like to think that they stay above the obviousness of the derision because their real work is just too important to be distracted by Catholic bashing media elites. I was lucky enough to be educated in the Catholic school system when there were nuns in every classroom and I can tell you that the current anxiety over the heartbreaking movie Waiting for Superman could be resolved if these strong, capable, independent women, who taught and controlled classrooms with 55-60 children, could somehow appear and be put in charge of the nation's public schools! 




The history of nuns in this country is remarkable. In 1737, twelve Ursuline nuns arrived in the United States from France. They founded schools, hospitals and orphanages and they did so in dangerous times and places with little money or resources. The first pharmacist in this country was an Ursuline nun. In a recent exhibition at the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. called “Women and Spirit: Catholic Sisters in America, there’s a hand-written letter from President Thomas Jefferson praising the Ursulines’ work and assuring them of their religious freedom. The Ursuline school in New Orleans is the oldest continually operating school for woman in the United States. And this is only one of many orders of sisters in this country.

“Catholic sisters built up the largest private health care system this world has ever known,” said Sister Carol Keehan, president of the Catholic Health Association of the United States, “and did it at a time when there really weren’t any options for women.”

In the exhibition the nuns were portrayed as 'pioneering, and surprisingly progressive, leaders in their communities who helped to build America’s healthcare, education and social services, at a time even when women didn’t have the right to vote. They raised funds to build schools, hospitals, orphanages and colleges before most women in the United States could legally own property, negotiate contracts and acquire loans. And they entered the workforce decades earlier than most women.' 

“They didn’t wait for ‘somebody else’ to do the job that needed to be done,” says Ellen Dorn, director of exhibitions for the International Gallery. “They just went right into action when a need arose.”

If you respect women, respect religion of any denomination then respect Catholic nuns and write to networks or Hollywood studios whenever a disservice is done to the honor of our country's first feminists.



Reference and notes from Daniel Burke, Religion News Service and Smithsonian.com

Hanging Art: A Tedious Process

If it was easy anyone could do it.


But it really applies here.


This will be a very short entry...I didn't meet with much success in my plan to populate a triangular shaped wall in my home with meaningful and interesting art. In fact, I only hung one more picture today..and it needs an adjustment. This post doesn't rate a photo!


Yesterday, I went to the mall with two pictures that needed fresh mattes...one the Chinese hand drawn letters spelling my name in Mandarin and the other a pen and ink of the Nantucket waterfront I did back in the 70s. My policy of not purchasing any more frames came back to haunt me. When I got home today with the ready-to-frame art I discovered hat I had a frame but no glass for one and glad but no frame for he other. Hmmmm.......


But in searching for a frame I discovered a signed watercolor of Bermuda that had the right stuff: art/glass/matte/frame...so I hung it. It's a bit close to the silver wall sconce I hung on Monday and will need the wire elongated.  


All in all, not a very productive day.


Tomorrow: Defending nuns.

Pasta Fagioli: You'll Sing "Vita bella"

My husband and I are big fans of soup...and almost any will do! We even love Campbell's Soups...especially Old Fashioned Tomato with Rice and Cream of Celery. But now that I'm home I'm trying to get away from the canned varieties and make my own. Last week I made carrot soup and today I'm trying Pasta Fagioli.

Pasta e fagioli or pasta fagioli or the colloquial pasta fazool  means "pasta and beans" and had it's beginnings as an Italian peasant dish due to cheap, available beans and pasta. 'Pasta fazool' even gets a mention in the famous song "That's Amore" so popular is this dish in Italian and American culture. Check out Dean Martin in this youtube video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aS6-b7CONDI

The first time I tried this soup was over 10 years ago with a friend from work at a restaurant in DUMBO...I was skeptical not being a great lover of beans back then but I gave it a try and was immediately won over. It's now one of my favorite soups. I located a recipe that sounded like a good beginning and added a few things to it to mimic a soup I remember having in Rome. The result was delicious, a hearty vegetable soup with some Italian sausage added to make it even richer! I paired this with a green salad and fresh prosciutto bread from a local bakery. Perfect for a cool fall evening. 

Pasta Fagioli

Serves 4

Ingredients

2 stalks celery, chopped 

1 onion, chopped 

3 cloves garlic, minced 

2 teaspoons dried parsley 

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning 

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (less or none if you don't like spicy) 

salt to taste 

1 (14.5 ounce) can chicken broth 

2 medium tomatoes, peeled and chopped 

1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce 

1/2 cup uncooked pasta (I used Gemelli)

1 (15 ounce) can cannellini beans, with liquid 

1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, with liquid

1 (15 ounce) chick peas, with liquid

I/2 cup diced Italian sausage

Directions

• In a large saucepan over medium heat, cook celery, onion, garlic, parsley, Italian seasoning, red pepper and salt until onion is translucent. Stir in chicken broth, tomatoes and tomato sauce, and simmer on low for 15 to 20 minutes. 
• Add pasta and cook 10 minutes, until pasta is tender. 
• Add undrained beans and mix well. Add cooked meat. Heat through. 
• Serve with grated Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top.

Tomorrow: Adding to the wall art

Hanging Art: I Finally Begin

BEFORE

In a July 26th post I detailed my commitment problem when it comes to hanging art. But with renewed vigor and a boost from a great article in last Thursdays NY Times (see link) I decided to act. http://www.nytimes.com/pages/garden/index.html

As with most of my projects, by the time I get around to doing them I lose or misplace the items needed...and this was the case today. One of my main projects (aside from this one) is organizing the house, garage, basement and attic...a daunting task! In my efforts in this area, I've actually isolated 4-5 boxes of frames and art that have been hanging (actually not hanging) around for more years than I care to admit. 

So my project for today was to tackle a triangular shaped wall leading downstairs from the upper level of my house part of which is a nice sized loft area where we watch TV. The one piece I knew I was hanging was a framed rectangular drawing of the Verrazano Bridge and it was also the one piece that I actually knew where it was. I also had two wood sconces painted a distressed silver. I could only find one though I tripped over both of them for the better part of four years! I also had two 8x10 photos of Italian architectural details  I purchased from a friend who had a backyard show a couple of years ago. I found the frames I intended to use but couldn't find the photos. Typical!

NOT QUITE 'AFTER'..BUT IT'S A START!

If you look at the Times article, the results the art hanger achieved were exactly the look I'm aiming for. In my post written in July, I attached some photos from the Pottery Barn or Crate and Barrel catalogues. Those books, sent unsolicited if you've ever purchased anything there, are a great resource. I find them inspirational as well.

My look then will be eclectic. I have a smallish hand made and hand painted kite in a blue and white Asian design and another piece with my name written in Chinese characters both from a visit to the Chinese Scholars Garden here on Staten Island. When it was being constructed over 10 years ago, I was lucky to be invited by the newspaper I was working for at the time (The Staten Island Advance) for a private viewing and lunch at Sailor's Snug Harbor. I have those pieces in hand but they need some professional mounting. I'm going to take care of that tomorrow morning and will add those two pieces to my wall mosaic. Bottom line: only two pieces were hung today but I'm optimistic about getting this done soon!

Galette Update:

I tasted my Plum Galette late last night and I must say to tasted as good as it smelled and looked. I thought the brisee was light and flaky, the plums were sweet but not too. I will definitely try again maybe with apples but really the plums were delicious!

Tomorrow: I make Pasta Fagioli

Plum Galette: A Dessert Perfect For Fall

Maybe it's the color that makes me think of fall but a Plum Galette has autumn written all over it. In fact, the recipe I'm presenting today was from the September issue of Martha Stewart Living from 2002 (with a few changes of course). Galette is French for a sweet pancake, a free form, rustic pastry. They're usually filled with fruit but can be made with meat for certain holidays.


Its really quite simple to make and it only took about 30 minutes to prepare. There is some refrigerator time needed and it takes another 40 minutes to bake. As I'm typing here, the scent is wafting up to my TV room and I must say it's very enticing! I will admit, I'm not a gigantic fan of plums and I'll be very honest with my critique. But if I don't like it, I will certainly give this recipe a try again perhaps around Thanksgiving substituting apples or red Anjou pears.



Plum Galette


Ingredients: 
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour + more for work area
1/2 c. finely ground walnuts (or hazelnuts) 
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
1 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 teaspoons salt
1 and a half pounds plums (about 5) sliced into 1/4 thick slices
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 egg lightly beaten
1/2 c. apricot marmalade
Pâte Brisée (recipe follows)


Directions:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Prepare pate Brisee and roll out to 1/8 inch thick and trim edges to form a rectangle. Transfer to parchment paper cut to fit a cookie sheet. In a small bowl combine flour, nuts  brown sugar, cornstarch and salt. Cover dough leaving a 2 inch border free.
• Place plums in 4 rows overlapping. Sprinkle with sugar and fold edges in to seal the plums.
• Brush dough with egg wash. Chill for 30 minutes in refrigerator.
• Bake 10 minutes at 425 degrees. Lower to 400 degrees and bake for another 30 minutes until crust is golden brown and plums are tender. .
• Transfer to wire rack and  brush with melted jam. Let cool for a few minutes and brush over plums. 
• Serve with vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream.

Pâte Brisée


2 and a half cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
8 ounces chilled unsalted butter
1/2 c. ice water


In food processor, mix flour and salt adding butter by pulsing until mixed like coarse meal. Add cold water a little at a time until dough sticks together. Roll into a ball and cill wrapped in plastic for about an hour. 




Tomorrow: Hanging art is an art

Time Management: I Learn A Few Lessons

When I stopped (voluntarily) working in July, I had a plan.

1. Keep the alarm clock set for 6 a.m. 
2. Walk every morning. 
3. Make Mass one weekday in addition to Sunday. 
4. Cook fresh food for dinner every night (not Friday or Saturday, I'm not that crazy!) 
5. Start a daily blog. 
6. Set up and give art classes for September. 
7. Babysit two days a week for my daughter and be available for my other two grandchildren if needed. 
8. Restart a weekly food basket for the poor through my church. 
9. Arrange for a Christmas 'giving tree' for a needy parish also through my church. 
10. Reconnect with my friends for breakfast every once in a while. 
11. Get necessary preventative doctor appointments made and kept. 
12. Wean myself off diet coke. 
13. Organize the family photos. 
14. Clean the basement, garage and attic so that they're usable. 

Well, here are the results and I disappointed myself. Of the fourteen items listed I really only completed about half. 

• I did set the clock for 6 a.m. but somehow I seem to be sleeping later and later. 
• The daily walk...ha! 
• Weekday Mass? I finally got there this week but it was rewarding and made me feel good so hopefully it'll become a more routine practice. 
• Cooking fresh? I did do that using my vegetables from my small garden supplemented of course from the supermarket. 
• The daily blog? Very good at completing that but I need to figure out how to get more readers! 
• I set up art classes...got 6-7 calls but no one actually signed up. I keep reminding myself that Rome wasn't built in a day. 
• Babysitting goal has been met...but the twins got a set of stitches each on my watch...ouch! But I do walk when I watch them so there's that at least! 
• I finally asked and got permission for the food basket in church. I need to make a flyer and get that started officially. But I just did that this week. 
• Ditto for the Christmas giving tree. 
• Breakfast with friends? Of course I did that! 
• Doctor's appointments were made and kept...just a few more TK. 
• Still trying to kick the diet coke habit. Some days are better than others but I'm not there yet. 
• The family photo project has barely begun. 
• Lastly, basement, garage and attic cleaning got started...and is far from completed. It was a hot summer!

One thing I noticed was how often I made a to-do list and either left it home or just didn't refer to it at all during the day. I think better list keeping is the key to successful goal reaching and I intend to do better at that. Making my lists for the next day in the evening and tucking it into my pocketbook right after might be a good idea. 

Accomplishing goals is important to me and I guess I look back on this summer as a learning experience. Will update from time to time mosyly to kep a check on myself but also to hopefully inspire you to do the same. In the meantime, here are some inspirational quotes about keeping busy and setting goals:

   “Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.”— Henry David Thoreau 

   “Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.” —Dale Carnegie 

   “No matter how busy you may think you are, you must find time for reading, or surrender yourself to self-chosen ignorance.”—Confucius     

   “Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans” —John Lennon 

   “The busy man is troubled with but one devil; the idle man by a thousand” —Spanish Proverb 

     

   “When you are asked if you can do a job, tell 'em, 'Certainly I can!' Then get busy and find out how to do it.”—Theodore Roosevelt 

Goals are dreams with deadlines.—Diana Scharf Hunt

Never look down to test the ground before taking your next step; only he who keeps his eye fixed on the far horizon will find his right road.—Dag Hammarskjold

You must have long term goals to keep you from being frustrated by short term failures.

—Charles C. Noble

Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goals.

—Sydney Smith

My philosophy of life is that if we make up our mind what we are going to make of our lives, then work hard toward that goal, we never lose – somehow we win out

—Ronald Reagan

Over the weekend: I try Plum Gallette

Making a Child-Sized Tool Apron

I was lucky enough a couple of weeks ago to come across a yard sale with some 

great children's toys. Last Christmas I was in the market for the 

Black and Decker Tool Bench pictured here for my grandchildren but was unable to get one in time for the holiday. The one I spotted at the yard sale was in excellent condition and had most of the power tools and hooks and everything worked. The best part though was that it was only $5.00...a real bargain!

It was a great gift for my daughter to give to her identical twin nephews for their upcoming 2nd birthday. We enhanced the workbench by adding some more tools and hardhats from Toys 'r Us and also thought tool aprons would be fun which I volunteered to make.

My daughter (the twins mother!) likes the boys to be identified by colors ...one in green, the other in blue so keeping that in mind I shopped for a heavy cotton fabric that came in those colors. It's a really simple pattern and can be adjusted for any size. Give it a try...there are lots of alternatives to this garment...if there are any others out there please send them along.

Supplies:

1 and one half yards yard of heavy cotton such as poplin or duck

1 yard grosgrain ribbon in contrast color

thread and straight pins

press-on letters, buttons or sticky letters to personalize

Directions:

• Cut 2 apron shapes placing center on fold.
• Make neck ties and/or apron ties out of ribbon or same fabric
• Place neck ties on front of apron 1/2 inch in from top corners and pin (downward) in place
• Place good side of lining of apron face down on front of apron with ties pinned down.
• Pin all sides except bottom and sew together.
• Trim edges and turn apron inside out. Press.
• Center ribbon on bottom edge and sew along raw edges top and bottom, leaving extra yardage on wither side for ties.
• Turn unfinished bottom edge up to the curved corner. 
• Sew edges closed and add as many vertical pocket lines as you wish to hold tools.
• Personalize with iron-on letters or decorate with buttons or stick-on letters.

Tomorrow: Making a better daily schedule

Irish Brown Bread

When we were in Ireland this summer one thing we noticed after a couple of days was that Irish Soda Bread, a staple of an Irish meal here in the United States, was never served. Instead, at breakfast, lunch and dinner a delicious brown bread was always present. From hotels to restaurants to pubs the variety of the brown breads were as diverse as bakery bread in our country. 

I was told that Americans could never get the bread to taste the same because of two factors: American flour isn't coarse enough and the butter used in cooking (and also as a spread) is too different. One blogger recommended using Kerrygold butter available in some stores in the U.S. (http://www.kerrygold.com/usa/index.php) but I decided to forge ahead without the authentic products and see how it compared. 

My first attempt earlier this week was a disaster. I read the instructions incorrectly and ended up with a leaden loaf of grainy ingredients but I remade it yesterday with the correct proportions and was pleased with the results. 

I'm going to try another recipe next week and will try to get the Kerrygold butter for that one. But give this a try. I think you'll like it. 

Irish Brown Bread

Makes one loaf

Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour 

2 tablespoons sugar 

1 teaspoon baking powder 

1 teaspoon baking soda 

1/2 teaspoon salt 

1 1/2 tablespoons cold butter or margarine 

2 cups whole-wheat flour 

1/4 cup regular or quick-cooking rolled oats 

1 1/2 cups plain nonfat yogurt or whipping cream

Chopped walnuts (optional) 

Milk 

Directions:

• Mix all-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Cut in butter until mixture forms fine crumbs. Stir in whole-wheat flour, oats and nuts if desired.
• Add yogurt; stirring gently. Add small amounts of milk if pastry is too dry but do not let it get sticky.
• Knead dough into a ball on a floured board or on a granite counter top. Place on a lightly greased baking sheet shaping it into a 7" round. Cut a large X on top of loaf.
•  Bake in a 375° oven for 40 minutes or until browned. Cool or serve warm. 

Tomorrow: A child sized tool apron

Fall Wreath Redo: Up From the Basement

Not quite a door of Dublin, 

but I only paid for the ribbon!

I can't believe I actually have time this year to decorate for Halloween. 
Ah, the benefits of not working! 

But one of the downsides is learning to live with less (actually not such a downside really) and thinking creatively to achieve a desired result without just 
going to the store to buy something new as 
I did so often in the past. 

One of my projects is cleaning out my basement, garage and attic...tasks long overdue. I was lucky to have gotten the basement finished earlier this year but we (er, me) are still sorting 'stuff' that's accumulated in our 'nether world' for over 25 years. Over the last couple of weeks I've found things I bought, lost, re-bought and in some cases lost again! Old clothing, toys, dusty trophies, tools and ice skates have all been relocated and I'm only half done! You know the drill.

As autumn approached, I was hoping for an old fall door wreath to present itself...I was sure I had one maybe mixed in with the wooden doll house I bought in Frank's (remember Frank's?) and never put together? Or in some of the unlabeled storage bins that littered the basement? No luck! But I did find a nice spring themed wreath and decided to renovate it.

Before

First, it needed a little spring cleaning so I took the dusty door decoration out back and hosed it down. While it was drying I collected some old craft paints and brushes and selected the reds, yellow and oranges. For a palette, I took a piece of tin foil and put a couple of drops of each color in a circle. The wreath had some green apples in the center surrounded by lush greenery and pink and purple flowers.

That wreath was pretty large and I didn't want to paint the whole thing so I started with the apples painting them shades of yellow, orange and red. I tackled the flowers next, painting them mostly orange. I randomly selected leaves and painted them all of the colors, then mixed more shades and highlighted the painted leaves and others. 

After

Lastly, I bought (yes, there wasn't a fall-colored ribbon in the house!) two rolls of wired 2"ribbon and made a full bow with two streamers. Total cost of wreath: $5.00 for the ribbon. Hanging it on my front door was the final touch to the mums and pumpkin man that were already there. 

Goodbye summer, fall has arrived! 


Christmas anyone?

Tomorrow: Irish Brown Bread

Carrot Soup: Take 1

When we were in Ireland this summer one of the most memorable meals we had started with a bowl of homemade carrot soup. Neither my husband or I had had it before and it was a more than pleasant experience. I decided to make some when we arrived home and I just got around to fulfilling my epicurean vow made on our first night at the Cahernane Hotel in Killarney.

I found a recipe that I thought would mimic our Irish experience and it was really quite simple. In the end I added a few surprise ingredients and my husband and I agreed it was thick, tasty and remarkably close to the delightful soup we had in Killarney. It was a meal by itself and a great soup for cooler temperatures this fall. Later this week I'm trying another carrot soup recipe and will post that as well with a comparison critique.

I tried an Irish Brown Bread recipe to add to the authenticity of the meal (and for a future post) but the recipe I tried was a disaster. Oh well, back to the drawing board...will try again soon!

Carrot Soup

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 pounds carrots peeled and cut into small pieces

i small onion minced

6 garlic cloves

1 teaspoon chopped parsley minced

4 cups vegetable broth

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1/4 cup sugar

1 cup whipping cream

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

1/4 cup capers

salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

• Heat oil in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add carrots, onion, garlic, and cloves and sauté until onion is translucent, about 8 minutes. Add 3 1/2 cups broth. Cover and simmer until carrots are very soft, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes.
• Remove cloves from broth and discard. Puree soup in batches in blender. Return soup to same saucepan. Mix in lemon juice, dijon mustard, capers and sugar. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Thin to desired consistency with more broth. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
• Whisk cream in medium bowl just until slightly thickened, about 10 seconds.
• Stir soup over medium heat until heated through. Ladle into bowls. Drizzle cream over. Top with parsley.

Tomorrow: Out of the basement: An old door wreath gets a new life for autumn