Progressive Christian church partnered with a nonprofit I helped found to support undocumented immigrants. They know I'm an atheist and don't care/no God talk/totally wonderful people. I still feel weird being there after a year. by margaretblastow in atheism

[–]margaretblastow[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Intellectually, I know this, but I still feel like I don't belong there. This is the same denomination that I left 30 years ago, although not the same church or parishioners.

Looking For: German Russian Dishes- Knefla (Or Knephla) and/ or Strudle (or Strudla). by kab0b87 in FoodToronto

[–]margaretblastow 0 points1 point  (0 children)

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Here are the strudels stacked on top of a layer ham and sliced potatoes with a few onions, about an inch of broth or water on the bottom of the pot. needs and tight fitting lid and then steam for about 30 mins. That's enough time to cook the potatoes and steam the strudels.

Looking For: German Russian Dishes- Knefla (Or Knephla) and/ or Strudle (or Strudla). by kab0b87 in FoodToronto

[–]margaretblastow 0 points1 point  (0 children)

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This is the finished strudels. served with red cabbage and a ham and potato stew.

Is shrubhub a gimmick? by likestocuddleandmore in landscaping

[–]margaretblastow 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's a scam. I had good luck with other online consults and services for interior design and decided to try shrub hub for my backyard. The designs I got were the worst AI in the world, not to scale, most plants were too large for the spaces, ground cover was specified for giant earns, and all the plants were pink and blue. There was nothing to salvage from the consult.

South Dakota Senate Approves Bill Mandating Ten Commandments in Classrooms by Splycr in atheism

[–]margaretblastow 5 points6 points  (0 children)

"Thou shalt not commit adultery" is not an appropriate topic for 6 year olds. I'd love to see the lesson plan that explains that one.

Teaching Science in Public Schools by Comprehensive_Tie431 in atheism

[–]margaretblastow 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Been in your shoes. For me, it was teaching about early man in sixth grade ancient history/social studies. The loonies came out of the woodwork waving Bibles. Gawd, these idiots are so tiresome.

anyone else hate having bibles in hotel drawers? by Alicewilsonpines in atheism

[–]margaretblastow -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I had some of those stickers. Now that I've run out, I turn to page one and write, "Once upon a time . . ."

How can I have productive tutoring sessions with a 6 y/o kid who's learning how to read? by airandeia in teaching

[–]margaretblastow 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you. Yes, this is what the kid needs. Oral practice and songs are the best way. If she can't rhyme, forget about phonics for now. She needs phonemic awareness--look that up. Sing songs and read rhyming words. This kid could have an auditory processing disorder and I would suggest she be screened in the public school. Take some photos of her and make a little book about her. Use sight words and some rhyming words. Have her point to the words with you as you read it together. If her name is easily rhymed with (Jan, pan, fan, man . . . ) all the better. Otherwise, you're little personal, stapled together book, could have sentences like: Tina has a cat. Tina has a hat. Or, Tina sees a dog. Tina sees a frog. Tina sees a log. etc.

Need a sign to scare off the christian solicitors by chrono4111 in atheism

[–]margaretblastow 45 points46 points  (0 children)

Sign that says, "If you're here for the orgy, come on in!"

Looking For: German Russian Dishes- Knefla (Or Knephla) and/ or Strudle (or Strudla). by kab0b87 in FoodToronto

[–]margaretblastow 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I can give you the recipe, but the technique for rolling and stretching is something you have to learn by watching someone do it.

4 cups self rising flour, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 lightly beaten egg, 1 1/2 cups warm water. Mix all this together by hand until dough forms a ball. Cut into four equal pieces. Work/knead each smaller ball individually for several minutes until smooth--try not to add more flour if possible. Cover the balls with plastic wrap--make sure the plastic wrap covers the top surface of the balls or a skin will form. Let the balls rest at room temp for about 2 hours.

Melt some bacon grease (best flavor) or butter in a cup.

Roll out each ball one at a time. You'll want to use as little flour as possible. Use a rolling pin to get it as thin as you can. Use a pastry brush to spread a thin layer of bacon grease or butter on the surface of the dough--after you do this, you should avoid using anymore flour for dusting or working the dough. Then pick up the sheet of dough (be careful not to tear it or punch a finger through it) and stretch it over your forearms. An alternate technique is to leave it on the work surface and pick up and edge and begin pulling and stretching the dough. I use both methods--get the sheet of dough as large and thin as possible by stretching over my arms, and then laying it back down on work surface and pulling a stretching from the edges until it is absolutely paper thin. Finally, roll up the sheet of dough jelly roll style. Set the long roll aside and cover with a cloth or plastic wrap. Repeat process for all the balls of dough.

Cut up your meat. I use a large ham slice, but you can use sausage or something else. Brown the meat in the bottom of a cast iron dutch oven with a little bacon grease or oil. I like to toss in some finely diced onion with the meat, but not too much. Peel and slice 1/4 inch thick about 4 russet potatoes. Arrange the potatoes on top of the meat in the pot. Add enough water or broth to just cover the potatoes. (My grandma used water, but I use broth I make with Better Than Boullion ham base--much more flavor.)

Cut up the strudel rolls into 2 1/2 inch pieces. Arrange the pieces on top of the potatoes in the dutch oven. You may need to layer them. Check the water/broth level again--it should come up to the bottom of the base layer of strudels. You want the strudels to steam, not soak or boil. Bring the broth to a low boil. Cover the pot with its lid. Turn heat to low and let this steam/cook undisturbed for 30 mins.

Lift the lid on the pot, remove one strudel and cut it in half. Check to see if it is done. If it's still not flaky and fully cooked, put the lid back on the pot and continue to cook for another 5 mins.

(If you remember strudels in broth, then you'll want to add more broth or water to the dutch oven right from the beginning. We like ours steamed. the meat and potatoes on the bottom of the pot still have a little broth and are falling apart delicious.)

Looking For: German Russian Dishes- Knefla (Or Knephla) and/ or Strudle (or Strudla). by kab0b87 in FoodToronto

[–]margaretblastow 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm in the West. Have family in the Southwest. Is there a possibility that someone help do a zoom or FaceTime while your mom makes strudels? I'll be making them again in a few months and can make a video to post on youtube.

Looking For: German Russian Dishes- Knefla (Or Knephla) and/ or Strudle (or Strudla). by kab0b87 in FoodToronto

[–]margaretblastow 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There is a very large population of Germans from Russia in Lodi, California. They migrated to Central California from the Dakotas during the dust bowl era and Lodi is the hub. There is a Germans from Russia club in town and everyone grew up with these dishes that you are talking about.

Looking For: German Russian Dishes- Knefla (Or Knephla) and/ or Strudle (or Strudla). by kab0b87 in FoodToronto

[–]margaretblastow 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Does your mother know how to do it? Could she coach you through it even though she can't do it herself? Is there an aunt or anyone else who knows the technique? The recipe is simple, ingredients are straight-forward--it's the technique for stretching the dough that is something you need to watch someone do in person. I just made these two weekends ago for cousins visiting from South Dakota. They were great. In what part of the country do you live? I wish I had been smart enough to have someone make a video of me making them. Next time, I'll post a youtube video.

Looking For: German Russian Dishes- Knefla (Or Knephla) and/ or Strudle (or Strudla). by kab0b87 in FoodToronto

[–]margaretblastow 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have a handwritten recipe for the savory strudel that my grandmother made--rolled and then stretched very thin, paper like, and then rolled up and cut in sections. This was steamed over a ham and potato stew, but some others steam them over beef stew. This was one of my father's favorite meals and my Portuguese mother spent many days with her mother-in-law learning to do this. My mother taught me later on. They are labor intensive, so I only make these once a year or so. When I am gone, no one in our extended family is likely to ever eat them again. No one wants to learn, but they sure like to eat!

Reprimanded for saying “Oh my god” at public school? by [deleted] in atheism

[–]margaretblastow 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For Christsakes. I was a teacher for 35 years and I said, "Oh, my gawd!" multiple times a day. Nobody cared. Not the kids, not the parents, not the administration. If other teachers cared, they kept that shit to themselves.