Blue Jeans and Cotton Tees

The Answer
by Susan May Warren

Whos, Here, we are Whos here, smaller than the eye can see. Whos here, we are Whos here, I’m a Who and so is she…

I’ve always wanted to live in a musical. When I was a kid, I loved Oklahoma, Sound of Music, West Side Story. I seriously thought that, if the moment was right, maybe the stars aligned, people would break out into song and dance.

I was sorta right. Because in my house, one needs to be able to talk in movie lines and song lyrics to effectively communicate. At any moment, someone might break out with a quip from the Princess Bride, or Finding Nemo. They might sing Tomorrow from Annie, or My Favorite Things like Julie Andrews.

But, most recently we’ve found ourselves speaking in “Suess”…

It’s suppertime, son, and the time is near To call far and wide the sneetches who hear Just the sound of their bellies, the whir of their gear The Gurgles and Burbles that give them great fear Tell them all, tell them loud, tell them clear Their hands they should wash, check their face in the mirror Because the food is now ready and it’s time to steer Close to the table, where they’ll find hot gribbles here.

Why, you ask? Because David and Sarah are performing in the community theater’s production of Suessical the Musical, a hilarious conglomeration of Dr. Suess’ fun work, from Horton hears a Who to Horton Hatches an Egg.

As the Christmas season draws close (and the songs from the play linger in my head), one line has stood out to me… “We are here, we are here!” You know the story – that part where, after everyone has called Horton names and they’re about ready to boil the speck that contains Who-ville, Horton calls out to the Whos to send up a cry to prove themselves as real. “We are here, we are here!”

It strikes me that sometimes we can feel like Whos…smaller than the eye can see. Tossed hither and yon by the wind, helpless and facing being boiled. Tired, perhaps, or alone. Wishing someone might find us and pay attention.

Someone has, and that’s the good news about Christmas. Because we don’t have to “make ourselves heard,” like the Whos. In fact, even before we realized we were headed for the cauldron, God intervened. God demonstrated his own love for us in this – while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom 5:8). That’s what Jesus is all about – he’s the answer to even the unspoken cry of our hearts, saying, “I am here, I am here.” Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

So as this season approaches with its whistles and bells I hope you hear the voice where the Mighty One dwells – down deep in your hearts, so nothing can shake the knowledge of his love, given all for your sake.

Merry Christmas from Susie May Warren

Susan May Warren is the award-winning author of twenty-one novels and novellas with Tyndale, Steeple Hill and Barbour Publishing. Her first book, Happily Ever After won the American Fiction Christian Writers Book of the Year in 2003, and was a 2003 Christy Award finalist. In Sheep’s Clothing, a thriller set in Russia, was a 2006 Christy Award finalist and won the 2006 Inspirational Reader’s Choice award. A former missionary to Russia, Susan May Warren now writes Suspense/Romance and Chick Lit full time from her home in northern Minnesota. www.susanmaywarren.com Check out her Christmas Novella, The Great Christmas Bowl.

I grew up with Spam.

I actually kind of like Spam.  (Please don’t think too badly of me – my tastes have become slightly more refined as I’ve matured.)

One of my favorite Spam dishes is Spamburgers. They were always such a treat at home! Chopped Spam mixed with Velveeta cheese and toasted on a bun – what’s not to like?!

Soon after we were married, my husband was horrified when I mentioned my plan to make them. Spam was not in his vocabulary. (Hey – what can I say – I obviously married up! But I do like to remind him that his ancestors were the ones who brought the world Lutefisk – ‘nuf said!)

It took me awhile to figure out how to dress up this childhood favorite to appease even my wonderful yet “I’m not eating Spam” husband.

It was so simple – I don’t know why I didn’t think of it before! Chopped ham and cheddar cheese. Perfect!

We named them Bruno Burgers after Bruno’s deli on Busytown (my son’s favorite show at the time!)

Bruno Burgers
or Hot Ham and Cheese Sandwiches

Chop some ham in a food processor.
Chop an onion (or part of an onion) in the same food processor.
Add some cheddar cheese.
Add some ketchup and milk to bind them together.

That’s all! (It’s a very exact recipe – as you can tell!)

Open up some buns on a cookie sheet – or you can use bread.

Spread the bruno burger on the buns and bake at 400 degrees until they are bubbly and the cheese is melted.

Don’t want to run the oven- heat them in the microwave until the cheese melts.

These are a perfect way to use up some of that extra Easter ham. They are also great to feed a hungry youth group!

The ham mixture freezes well so it can be made ahead.

It’s still comfort food – just  little dressed up.

“O Come Desire of Nations, Bind all peoples in one heart and mind;

Bid envy, strife and quarrels cease;

Fill the whole world with Heaven’s peace.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel. Shall come to thee o Isreal.”

O come, O come thou Dayspring, come and cheer our spirits by thine advent here.

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night and death dark shadows put to flight.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee O Israel!

One Christmas tradition my children love is lefse.

I was first introduced to this Scandinavian treat at my first Christmas with my husband’s family.

I confess that I wasn’t impressed.

My sister-in-law told me later that lefse is best eaten warm, right off the griddle with lots of butter and sprinkled with sugar.

My children all learned to love lefse at an early age and in time I began to experiment with it myself.

My sister-in-law was right! It is incredible right off the griddle with the butter melting and dripping down.

It is now a tradition that I make once a year and serve at our Christmas Eve family meal. I make it ahead and freeze it, then warm it to serve. My husband and children love it that way.

I, however, eat my share the day I bake it – warm and dripping with butter! Now everybody’s happy.

Lefse

3 cups riced potatoes (these are potatoes that are peeled, cooked, and then put through a ricer. This makes sure you have no lumps. If you don’t have a ricer just mash the potatoes well.)

Add 2 tablespoons of melted butter, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt to the warm potatoes and let cool. Add 3/4 cup of flour to the potatoes when you are ready to roll them.

Mix it well.

Make the dough into small 1 inch balls and roll as thin as you can. Don’t worry if it isn’t a pretty circle- your kids won’t mind!

As you get more experienced with lefse you can make them bigger, but smaller is easier to work with in the beginning. They are also easier to cook on a regular griddle. You need a lefse griddle to make the large sizes.

A true Scandinavian would use a lefse rolling pin (as seen in the picture) to put the lovely little grooves in the lefse. But I have used a regular rolling pin and it worked alright- I just wouldn’t serve them to a Swede!

You may need to add more flour to each lump of dough as it is rolled out if it falls apart.

Bake on a very hot, ungreased lefse griddle or a regular pancake griddle. Turn when they have small brown spots on them. Turn only once.

To eat, butter them well, sprinkle with sugar if desired and roll them up.

I will confess here that I have in the past (alright- almost every year) used left-over mashed potatoes to make my lefse. I even add the extra butter and they have always turned out quite yummy! (Just don’t my mother-in-law or sister-in-law!)