A moment of reflection

My sweet sister-in-law was diagnosed with cancer almost 3weeks ago. It started in her Uterus and has spread to her lungs and her bones. She just had surgery yesterday to put rods in her 2 broken arms, so she could function and be able to go home to start outpatient treatment.
One of my first thoughts while she has been confined to a hospital bed was that I wanted to make her a quilt. Something soft and comforting and bright.
As I rummaged through my fabric supply, I came across on old project. One that I had started over 10years ago. Unfinished, because of the lack of motivation. It was a tedious project. A lot of cutting and piecing, and with my little experience back then you can see the mistakes made. I simply gave up, and didn't want to continue because they were too difficult to correct.
As crazy as it sounds, as I looked at this unfinished quilt I couldn't help but think of CiCi. It would be so easy for her to give up, to think there is no way. I looked at this project and it represented something all of a sudden to me. A little life lesson.
We all have made mistakes, thought things were too hard to do, and wanted to just give up. It may take a little bit more work to correct those mistakes, and now I have more knowledge to correct them.
I am almost finished, and even though it is not a masterpiece, it is pretty and hopefully will bring some comfort.

More zucchini?

With all our zucchini plants, I have had so much to work with. We love it grilled, sauteed, make it in bread and I even have a couple of casserole recipes. However, I am running out of ideas. I went to my cooking group and came home with a couple new ways to use zucchini. So I thought I would share.

Cream of Zucchini soup
3 cups of zucchini
1/2 cup water
1 TBSP minced onion
2 tsp chicken bouillon
2 TBSP butter
2 TBSP flour
1/8 pepper
1/2 cup light cream
Combine zucchini, water, onion, 1 tsp bouillon. Cook until zucchini is tender and most of the water is evaporated.
Puree or mash and set aside.
In saucepan, melt butter, flour, 1 tsp bouillon and pepper. Blend, add cream and simmer until thick. Add veggies to cream and mix.

This is such a great cream soup, I was pleasantly surprised. I fixed it last night and it was so good. Next time I thought I would even add some potatoes and corn to make it into a chowder.

Here is another:

Zucchini Brownies
2 c. sugar
3 eggs
1 c. vegetable oil
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
¼ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp vanilla
½ c. milk
2 ½ c. flour
½ c. cocoa
2 c. grated zucchini

Mix ingredients together and beat. Bake at 350 in a greased 9x13 pan or deep cookie sheet. For brownie consistency: bake 20-25 minutes. For cake: bake 30-40 minutes. (I noticed it didn't matter how long I baked it---it still had a cake-like consistency. But still very good)

Frosting:
½ square margarine
3 TB milk
1 ½ TB cocoa
Bring to a boil and add enough powdered sugar until smooth for spreading.