The Gift That Keeps On Giving

A special thanks to Therese Nagle for another heartfelt guest-post.  And a Christmas theme, too! Enjoy...

The Gift That Keeps on Giving

 Ah, Christmas. In the midst of all the holiday preparations and busyness, a constant theme for many is trying to find meaning and significance. We all want to create fond memories for our children. We want to find that “perfect gift” that is remembered for years. We want to acknowledge the important people in our lives. Sometimes, we get lucky. A small act or gift can spark many things – memories, kindness, laughter, love. Good stuff that spreads all kinds of good feelings for years. I am so very lucky to have shared a holiday tradition with a wonderful person for the last 29 years – my Mom – Mary Modesta Nagle.

It started innocently enough. In 1983, I sent out Christmas cards for the first time. I had graduated from college the previous spring, and some might remember a big recession and slim job prospects for a newly minted grad with a liberal arts degree. I was living in Iowa City, working at a day care center, without benefits and not much salary – a very hand-to-mouth existence. I needed a “real job” to make enough to meet my student loan obligations. On the card I sent to my parents, I wrote, “a new year too, maybe I'll even find a job.” In the next year, I did find a “real job” and moved to Minneapolis. In 1984, my Mom sent the same card back with “you did!”

Well, that very same card has been traveling between Iowa and Minnesota ever since. The card morphed into two, had paper taped to the back and now travels with a note pad for the current year's sentiments. I have no words to describe how much this card means to me. Twenty nine years represent a lot of life. We each tear up when we read over what we have written to each other over the years. We have had great joy, great sorrow, challenging times, joyful times. We both have admitted to each other that the card is stored in our respective safes during the year we keep it. The card is incredibly important to both of us.

 

 

As some of you may remember from my earlier stints as a stand-in on Sara's blog, I am one of the 10 Nagle children that grew up in Sara and Matt's house. Yep, my parents raised 10. My Mom has done amazing things in her life. Something truly remarkable is that she manages to have a unique relationship with each of us. About 15 years ago, I was telling some friends about the traveling Christmas card. A friend asked me if my Mom has traveling cards with any of my siblings. The question prompted me to ask my Mom. “No” she told me, “only you.”

Something so simple and inexpensive has grown exponentially. An offhand comment about finding a job sparked a decades-long tradition that brings laughter, tears and closeness between my Mom and I in ways that would be next to impossible to duplicate any other way. Some things in life are genuinely amazing. This card is one of them. It is truly a gift that keeps on giving.

Therese and her mom

A Legacy of Love

 Today I have a love story to share with you.  Today also happens to be my husband Matt and I's 12 year anniversary, but this love story is not about us; it is about the Nagles, who built our house and raised their family here for nearly 50 years.  One of their daughters, Therese, has written for "The Good" before ("Home Again"), and is a faithful reader of this blog.  She has written a beautiful tribute to her parents and their love story.  When she sent it to me, I couldn't wait to share it with all of you, because it includes some of my very favorite things:  Iowa City, a sappy love story, and a house full of kids (which happens to now be my house!)  And so, without further ado, I give to you...

Destie and Jack:  A Wonderful Love Story

I love to read. Love it, love it love it. Mostly fiction, but I am a fanatic about the morning paper. I don't read romance novels. That is not my genre. I sometimes fantasize about writing a great novel, or just writing in general. But, nothing I write would do justice to what I was privileged to experience first hand. My parents – Destie Monnig and Jack Nagle.

They met decades ago in Iowa City. My Mom was an undergrad, and my Dad was in law school. There is some confusion about how it all came about. Newman Center picnic, my Grandma telling my Mom... Jack Nagle wants to go to the picnic, why don't you pick him up? My Mom, driving the family car, picking my Dad up, her younger 12 year old brother needing a ride to boy scouts and asking my Dad (in the passenger seat) for the $.05 dues. All these years later, I like the idea that my Mom was driving and embarrassed by her pesky younger brother.

Nagle wedding

The picnic is legendary! We all talk about the Newman Center picnic. The picnic started it all! At some point, they started dating. And, my Dad moved back to Davenport (his home town) and started being a lawyer. He proposed. My Mom said yes! They had a great wedding and honeymooned in New Orleans.

They settled in an apartment in Davenport. They were a family. And, they starting expanding that family. They had kids, moved a few times, had more kids, bought a bigger house, the family grew, they had more kids, and settled on building a house (which my Dad helped design) as the ultimate home.

Ok, my parents were great parents. But, but, but, they loved each other and they were the best life long partners. That was the best thing they did. They loved each other. They supported each other. My Mom did so much and my Dad supported her career pursuits. He was so proud!



Dancing to their song

My parents loved each other. They were each other's rock. There was romance. There was passion. There was - as my favorite uncle pointed out before my wedding –friendship. Friendship is what its all about.

One of my favorite stories....years ago, my parents were spending the winter in Florida. I flew down for a couple of days to spend time with them. We were out at dinner with an old client of my Dad's – a woman I had just met that evening. A song came on and my parents looked at each other and immediately stood and said “This is our song, we have to dance.” I had not known that before that night. They had a song. But, I always will have a soft spot for Tony Bennent singing about leaving his heart in San Francisco.

My parents set the foundation. There IS such a thing as life-long love stories. They were married 65 years. My Dad died last January. November 23rd would have been their 66^th wedding anniversary. I like to think that my Dad is listening to Tony Bennent. And dancing.

 

 

A special thank you to Therese Nagle-Kiser for sharing the wonderful love story that was the foundation of the home in which my growing family now lives. I don't know if we will ever be as big in number (they had TEN kids!), but I pray that we will be as big in love as they were.  Today as we celebrate our twelve years together, Matt and I will be thinking of the example that Destie and Jack set.  Happy Anniversary, Mr. and Mrs. Nagle. 

Guest Blogger: "Home Again"

I am so excited to finally have this post put together.  The author is Therese, who grew up in the house where my husband and I are raising our children. I am SO glad to have her as a guest blooger for "The Good"!  Take it away, Therese...

You can go home again --- at least to Sara and Matt's house.

 

I know it is cliché.  You can't go home again.  Like up there with “things will get better”.  I did have the fantastic experience and discovered that I could go home again; even if the home belongs to strangers. 

Nagle family in front of the fireplace, 1967

Let's back up.  I was one of the family of ten children that grew up in where Sara and Matt live.  My parents picked the lot to build a house on based on the proximity of the new Catholic high school as it was going up a couple blocks west.  When they moved in, they had 5 kids (well, my brother was born two weeks later) and then proceeded to have five more.  My parents also made a home for Gloria, a Ukrainian orphaned by WWII.  Gloria lived with my family for seven years.  Gloria  moved with my family from their house on Denison Ave. to the new house.  She left in the late 50's when she became a nun.  Needless to say, the house was bursting in many wonderful ways.

the Nagles, 1979

My parents lived in the house for almost 35 years.  They sold the house to one of my brothers who lived there with his family for ten years.  The house was in the Nagle family for almost 45 years.  It was sold again and the rumors were not good.  At one point, it went into foreclosure. 

Several times when I was back to visit, I knocked on the door, but never found anyone home.  About 18 months ago, I was down visiting my parents and my Mom and I were running errands.  “I want to drive by the old house”  I told her.  It was on a weekday afternoon, and finding someone home was not likely.  We pulled up and I told my Mom I was going to see if anyone is home.  Matt greeted me and I explained who I was and asked if I could come in.  A few steps in and I was pleased and shocked at all the changes.  The house looked gorgeous and very different.  I told Matt that my Mom was in the car and would really enjoy seeing it.  Matt was gracious and very generous that January afternoon.

My Mom and I spent a delightful 45 minutes (thank you Matt) going through each room, exclaiming over the wonderful and beautiful renovations.  We walked through each room and told stories, reminiced  and throughly enjoyed ourselves.  The renovations were amazing.  The kitchen has an island! (Not in fashion when I lived in the house).  The kids' bathroom upstairs has become a laundry room and my old bedroom is now a bathroom!  Wait a minute, I did not agree to this!  I am not serious, the house looks beautiful and the changes make a lot of sense.



the Meehans in front of the SAME fireplace, 2012

Matt humored us.  He didn't even complain when I opened up a cabinet in the laundry room f/k/a kids' bathroom because it was the only thing left of the bathroom I used for almost two decades.  I think Matt enjoyed hearing our stories as well. 

While we were getting ready to leave, I wrote my name down and suggested that he “friend” me on Facebook as there were photos on my FB page taken in the house when I was a kid.  Sara friended me and we have become FB friends that most likely will never meet.  It has been wonderful fun to see photos of her family living in the house, photos of her kids playing in the same rooms I did. 

I told Matt that day in January, all those months ago, I will take liberty and speak for all of my siblings. We are thrilled to see another family laughing, growing, living in our (their) house. 

You can go home again.....even if it is someone else's house.   

Therese Nagle Kiser

Chef Laura's Tips: Fourth of July Cookouts

Quick Grilling Tips for Fourth of July (or any day!)

Preventing food from sticking:

First, get the grill nice and hot, then use a grill brush to scrape away any debris. Next, you will need an old rag or a handful of bunched-up paper towels and a pair of long grilling tongs.  Drizzle the rag or paper towels with a couple tablespoons of oil, grab with your tongs and grease the grill grates. (Caution: you might get a little flare up from the oil)

For better steaks:

I can't remember where I learned this tip, but it works really well for cooking perfect medium-rare or medium steaks. Put your steaks in the freezer for 5-10 minutes (depending on thickness) before grilling. Getting the steaks really well-chilled in the freezer before cooking will allow you to get a hard sear and good char on the outside of the steak without over-cooking the inside. *Bonus tip: always be sure to rest steaks another 5-10 minutes after cooking, so the juices don't run out when you cut them.

For juicy chicken:

Start the chicken over medium-high heat to get nice grill marks, then move to indirect heat to finish cooking throughout. That's it!

Hope everyone has a safe and happy 4th of July!

More Chef Laura Tips: Growing and Using Herbs

Fresh herbs can liven up almost any recipe.  Fresh herbs also have a detoxifying effect on our bodies--they are packed with antioxidants (especially oregano), many have anti-inflamatory agents, and can also aid in digestion. They are very easy to grow, so don't worry if you don't have a green thumb.  Herbs are practically a weed, and we all know those don't require a green thumb! If you plant them in the ground, they don't need much watering after they are well-established, and generally animals and insects don't bother them because of their pungent flavor and aroma.

Here are a few basic herbs to start an herb garden:

Parsley

 -Probably one of the most under-rated herbs, in my opinion.  It is not just pretty as a garnish; it also has a wonderful, bright flavor.

-A good addtion to marinades for any meat, fish, or veggie

-Adds color to salads (pasta, potato,etc)

-Good in soups and sauces

-Sometimes a perennial (if grown up close to your house where it is more sheltered in the winter months)

Basil

-Also good in salads and marinades

-Especially good in fresh pasta sauces, pestos, and caprese salad (tomato, basil, mozzarella cheese)

 -This herb will have sweet, tender leaves all season if you pinch the buds before they flower (to keep it from  going to seed).

-It's usually an annual, but towards the end of the season you can let it go to seed and sometimes it will re-seed  itself.

Chives

-A nice addition to dips, salads, soups, and marinades

-I also like to add it to cottage cheese.  My mom would sometimes let us eat cottage cheese with chives as chip-dip and somehow rationalize it as a healthy snack--I never protested!  I also like this mix on top of a baked potato (instead of sour cream)

-They are a perennial and have pretty purple flowers in late spring/early summer

Oregano

-This herb is another key ingredient in a good pasta sauce

-I think fresh oregano has a distinctly different taste than dried. I find the flavor more mild and slightly minty.

-Delicious in minestrone and many other soups

-It is also a perennial and should be cut back at the end of the season, after it is an established plant.  You will need to keep your eye on this one, or it can take over your herb garden!

Cilantro

-A key ingredient in salsa, but also has many other uses

-A great addition to Asian-inspired soups and marinades

-Pairs well with citrus and oil-based marinades for fish, pork, or chicken

-It's a really easy herb to start from seed as long as you keep it watered at first

-Like Basil, to extend its tender leaves and growing season, pick tops before it flowers to prevent it from bolting (or going to seed)

 **A general tip for storing cut herbs: lightly dampen a paper towel, lay herb on top and store in an unsealed plastic baggie in crisper drawer for 3-5 days

**Also, at the end of the season, I'll be sharing some tips on preserving different herbs so you can enjoy their fresh taste and health benefits all winter!

Mmmmm....Wednesdays!

In order to get you through the work week, or the stay-at-home week, Wednesdays will be devoted to helping you in the kitchen.  It will actually be a collaboration between myself and my best friend, Laura.  Here’s why:

Laura has a degree in Culinary Arts.  She has worked in numerous restaurants, currently runs her own kitchen in a local retirement home, and also has her own catering business on the side. Need I say more?

Me, on the other hand? No culinary degree for me.  Just a love of good food, cooking, and especially baking.

Laura will be here to tell you the secrets of a real chef—the how to’s, time-saving tips, presentation ideas, etc.  I will be here with my favorite recipes (Laura doesn’t use recipes, of course) to share with you.  I will also be sharing the secrets of a non-chef (AKA a working mom)…how to plan easy and cheap meals, how to make something out of the four items left in your refrigerator, etc.  Whatever your kitchen needs, we are here to help you find “the good”.

And so, let the journey begin where every journey ought to begin:  with dessert.  We recently hosted a cook-off at our house (Laura was one of the contestants, of course), and although I was not a contender, I did provide the dessert, as per chef Laura’s request:  Strawberry Shortcakes.  This was the first time I had made them, and it was a grand success.  Everyone was talking about them for days!  I highly encourage you to make this recipe as soon as humanly possible; it was so delicious.

The recipe is from the April 2012 issue of Taste of Home magazine…you will soon learn that many of my recipes are not my own, but instead found in magazines or cookbooks.  I’m not ashamed!  However, I can assure you that I have made all of the recipes at least once, and I am only sharing with you the ones that I have found both easy and delicious.

Fresh Berry Shortcakes

Prep Time: 35 minutes, Bake Time: 20 minutes, Yield: 10 servings

Ingredients

(berry topping)

5 cups sliced fresh strawberries (or berries of your choice)

½ cup sugar

¼ cup orange juice

(shortcakes)

3 cups all-purpose flour

½ cup sugar

1 tbsp. baking powder

1 tbsp. grated orange peel

½ tsp. salt

½ cup cold butter, cubed

1 ½ cups plus 1 tbsp. heaving whipping cream, divided

1 egg

1 egg yolk

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Coarse sugar, optional

(whipped cream)

2 cups heavy whipping cream

¼ cup confectioner’s sugar

½ tsp. vanilla extract

Instructions:  In a small bowl, combine the strawberries, sugar and orange juice; set aside.  For shortcakes, combine the flour, ½ cup sugar, baking powder, orange peel and salt; cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.  Whisk 1 ½ cups cream, egg, egg yolk, and vanilla; add to flour mixture, stirring just until moistened.  Turn onto a lightly floured surface; gently knead 8-10 times.  Roll out to 1-inch thickness, cut with floured 3-in. scalloped or round biscuit cutter.  Place 2 in. apart on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.  Brush tops with 1 tbsp. cream; sprinkle with coarse sugar if desired.  Bake at 400 degrees for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown.  Cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes.  For whipped cream, beat cream in a large bowl until it begins to thicken.  Add confectioner’s sugar and vanilla; beat until soft peaks form.  Just before serving, cut shortcakes in half horizontally.  Place bottoms on dessert plates; top with strawberry mixture.  Replace tops; dollop with whipped cream.

Sara’s Note:  Because I had a large group of people, I rolled the dough out to about ½ inch thick (instead of 1 inch), in order to make more shortcakes.  For this reason, I baked mine for only 12 minutes.  To be honest, most people said these were the best shortcakes they’ve eaten because they were not so thick.  Just thought I’d share that with you! ( I also never have parchment paper on hand, so I just lightly sprayed my baking sheet with Pam).

Buen Provecho! (Bon Apetit!)

Surprise!

                         

On Sundays we will be celebrating the element of surprise.  What would life be without a little spontaneity, little surprises here and there?  No matter how big or small, surprises have always been one of my favorite things.  Surprise parties, buying the perfect unexpected gift, surprise visits from friends and family.  Seeing the look on people’s faces when something unexpected (and pleasant) happens to them is priceless!

When my husband and I bought our first home, we didn’t even tell anyone that we had met with a realtor.  We were moving closer to home, and we knew everyone would be excited.  So, we had secret meetings with our realtor—it was fun sneaking around and looking at houses!  When we had found the one, we signed the papers and drove straight to my parents’ house to tell them.  What a shocking knock at the door that was!  After my parents recovered from the surprise, we made the rounds and drove around to the rest of the family members’ doorsteps to tell them.  What a fun night! Everyone was very excited…they only had one complaint:  all of them thought we were showing up on their doorstep to tell them that I was pregnant!  (Don’t worry, they didn’t have to wait long…about a month later we were making the rounds yet again to share that baby #1 was on the way!)

I know that some people are not really big fans of surprises.  My mom would fall under this category.  However, my dad and I continue to surprise her year after year at her birthday.  Haha, Mom!  So, for those of you who prefer a heads-up, who like your days to be scheduled and predictable, I apologize in advance for my Sunday posts! J  I’d like to think of them as “grab bag” posts—a day to hear from guest bloggers, a time to discuss topics that maybe don’t fit into our other daily themes.  And yes, we may literally talk about surprises, too!  I have to admit this is one of the areas I’m most excited to work on…and I’d love to hear your input about what you’d like to read on your (hopefully) lazy Sundays at home with your families and friends.

Two questions for you today….first, are you a surprise-lover or a surprise-hater?  And second, what are some topics you would be interested in reading about on “Grab-Bag Sundays”?