This Day in History… Republicans Pass Anti-KKK Act – Outlawing Democratic Terrorist Groups

On April 20, 1871, at the urging of President Ulysses Grant, Congress passed the Ku Klux Klan Act. Also known as the third Enforcement Act, the bill was a controversial expansion of federal authority designed to give the federal government additional power to protect voters. The act established penalties in the form of fines and jail time for attempts to deprive citizens of equal protection under the laws and gave the President the authority to use federal troops and suspend the writ of habeas corpus in ensuring that civil rights were upheld.

Founded as a fraternal organization by Confederate veterans in Pulaski, Tennessee, in 1866, the Ku Klux Klan soon became a paramilitary group devoted to the overthrow of Republican governments in the South and the reassertion of white supremacy. Through murder, kidnapping, and violent intimidation, Klansmen sought to secure Democratic victories in elections by attacking black voters and, less frequently, white Republican leaders.

http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2014/04/this-day-in-history-republicans-pass-anti-kkk-act-outlawing-democratic-terrorist-groups/

Philippians -- Study #1

Philippians -- An Introduction

I. The Theme of Philippians: Joy in being Christ-minded
II. The Origin of the Philippian Church. Acts 16:7-34

• A. It began with a vision: v. 9
• B. It began with vitality: v. 10-12
• C. It began with a visit: v. 12-13
• D. It began with a victory: v. 14-15
• E. It began with violence: v. 16-24
• F. It began with vindication: v. 25-34

III. The Ongoing of the Philippian Church.

• A. It was a church about which no heresy was mentioned.
• B. It was a church commended for its liberality in giving: 2 Corinthians 8:1-5.

IV. The Occasion of the Philippian Epistle. Philippians 1:1

• A. The church had sent Paul a gift: v. 4:18
• B. The Apostle Paul sending thanks to the church:

V. The Object of the Philippian Epistle.

• A. To assure them of his remembrance and affection: Phil. 1:3-4 & 7-8
• B. To exhort them to unity: Phil. 1:27 ; 2:4; 3:15; 4:2
• C. To stir them from complacency: Phil. 3:15-17
• D. To fix their eyes on Christ as all-sufficient: Phil. 4:11,13,19

VI. The Outlook of the Philippian Epistle. “Joy” and “rejoice” are used 16 times in this epistle.

• A. The secret of Christian fulfillment: Joy (Phil 1:4)
• B. The source of Christian happiness: Joy (Phil 4:4)
• C. The spring of Christian contentment: Joy (Phil 4:10-11)
• D. The center of Christian service: Joy (Phil 2:16-18)

VII. The Outline of the Philippian Epistle.

• A. Christ is the principle of the believer’s life (Phil. 1:21)
• B. Christ is the pattern of the believer’s life (Phil. 2:5)
• C. Christ is the passion of the believer’s life (Phil. 3:10)
• D. Christ is the power of the believer’s life (Phil. 4:13)

Many try to follow Him as the Pattern, or seek His Power, or desire His Passion, without having Him as the Principle of their lives

Grateful acknowledgement is made to Pastor Paul Fedena for his study in Philippians, on which this study is based.

My Christian Faith

I am a Christian and I take my faith very seriously. Simply put, I love God. And if I both love God and believe that mankind is created in His image, then I must necessarily love people too. All of them. Every single one.

Extra Sour Refrigerator Pickles

Started off making Alton Brown's Bread & Butter Pickles, which are very good.  But if you like your pickles on the sour side, you'll like this modification, which I've developed over the past couple of years.  

2 to 4 cucumbers (depending on size, about 1 1/4 lb.), thinly sliced
1/2 onion, thinly sliced
4 tsp. minced garlic
3 Thai chilies (optional)
1 cup apple cider vinegar
1 1/4 cups distilled white vinegar
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons pickling salt
1 tsp. mustard seeds
1/4 tsp. ground tumeric (or 1 tsp. fresh grated tumeric)
1 tsp. celery seeds
2 tsp. mixed pickling spice

Pickling cucumbers work best  but regular slicers will do as well. Layer the cucumbers, onions, and garlic (and chilies, if used) in a quart canning jar.  (Spring-top jars are ideal.) Pack them in fairly tight, or they'll all float to the top when you add the liquid.

Combine the remaining ingredients in a medium-sized saucepan.  Bring to a boil, and then simmer for 5 minutes.

Pour the hot vinegar mixture into the jar, filling it to the top.   Let the jars cool to room temperature.  Use any leftover vinegar mixture to top off the jar (some liquid will absorb into the cukes -- and that's a good thing.)  Fasten the lid and refrigerate.

The pickles will be ready to eat in about 2 days, but the flavor will be even better if you wait a little longer.  They'll should keep in the frig for 6 weeks, although they've disappeared long before that in my experience.

Other modifications.  You like dill pickles?  Replace 1/2 cup of the white vinegar with water.  Increase the sugar to 1/2 cup. Reduce the pickling spice to 1 tsp and add 1 tsp of dill seed and 1 tsp of dill weed.  It's won't be quite like a fermented kosher dill, but you'll get a hint of that dill flavor.

Hot & Sour Soup

This is a pretty easy recipe. This is just my variation of a fairly standard recipe.  

Hardware:

• 4 qt. saucepan or stockpot
• small mixing bowl
• assorted measuring spoons/cups

Software:

• 2 qts. low sodium chicken broth
• 1/2 c. low sodium soy sauce
• 1/2 c. cooked & shredded chicken breast
• 1 c. brown mushrooms, finely diced
• 1 1/2 Tbsp. garlic chili sauce
• 1/2 tsp. ground pepper (preferably white)
• 1/4 c. white vinegar
• 1/4 c. rice wine vinegar  
• 1 can (8 oz.) bamboo shoots, julienned
• 7 oz. firm tofu, diced in 1/4" chunks
• 1/4 c. cornstarch and 1/4 c. cold water
• 2 eggs, beaten thoroughly
• 4 green onion stalks, diced
• 1 tsp. sesame oil

Algorithm:

1. Bring broth to boil in stockpot.  Reduce heat to simmer.
2. Add mushrooms, soy sauce, chili sauce, and chicken.  Simmer 5 minutes.
3. Add vinegar, bamboo shoots, tofu, and pepper.  Simmer for another 5 minutes.
4. Combine the corn starch and cold water in a sealed container and mix thoroughly.  
5. Add the cornstarch mixture to the soup.  Stir in.  Simmer for another 5 minutes.  Soup will thicken some.
6. Beat eggs in small bowl thoroughly.  Pour egg very slowly into the soup in a fine stream.  Stir for 1 minute.
7. Add green onions and sesame oil and stir in.  Remove from heat and serve.

Output:  Approximately 10 servings.  

Carmel Pecan Pie

 Hardware:

   9 in deep dish pie plate or 9" x 2" fluted tart pan
    food processor
    3 qt. sauce pan
    assorted measuring cups, spoons, spatulas

Software:

• 3 1/2 cups coarsely chopped pecans 
• 2 cups flour 
• 2/3 cup powdered sugar 
• 3/4 cup butter, cubed 
• Floured cooking spray

• 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar 
• 1/2 cup honey 
• 2/3 cup butter 
• 3 tablespoons whipping cream 

Algorithm:

1. Arrange pecans in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 5 to 7 minutes or until lightly toasted. Cool on a wire rack 15 minutes or until completely cool.
2. Pulse flour, powdered sugar, and 3/4 cup butter in a food processor until mixture resembles coarse meal. Pat mixture evenly on bottom and up sides of a lightly greased 9" x 2" tart pan with removable bottom.
3. Bake at 350° for 20 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack 15 minutes or until completely cool.
4. Bring brown sugar, honey, 2/3 cup butter, and whipping cream to a boil in a 3-qt. saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir in toasted pecans, and spoon hot filling into prepared crust.
5. Bake at 350° for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden and bubbly. Cool on a wire rack 30 minutes or until completely cool.

The Blue-Eyed Gal's Secret Peanut Butter Pie Recipe

The Blue-Eyed Gal's Secret Peanut Butter Pie Recipe

(Under cover of darkness, in a commando-style raid, I managed to storm the kitchen, unlock the recipe box, and photograph the recipe on microfilm. Using my training in cryptanalysis, I discerned that a Caesar cipher had been used for encryption.  The decoded recipe follows below):

colate, if you can get it")

Mix until smooth:
1 cup sugar
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cup peanut butter (a handwritten notation adds "I like crunchy")

Blend in 1 large Cool Whip  (notation says 12 oz.)

Pour 1/2 mixture into crust.
Sprinkle broken Reese's Cups  (notation "Have also used Butterfingers, etc.")  then cover with remaining peanut butter mixture.

Chill.  (I presume that means the pie, instead of the just the cook....)