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The Christian Thoughts and Posts
I have another Substack newsletter that serves the Christian related videos on my YouTube channel (which, BTW, has a new video posted in the prayer series).
This has posts which are presently tied in with the videos on my YouTube channel.
The latest Substack post being on the topic of Christian Simplicity.
For the newest posts on my Substack, choose from Christian or Garden topics.
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I’m pretty excited about Substack because it is a great community and fun to work on. Today I made my first in-house video from the garden article and posted it on Facebook. Aside from using a wonky AI voice (won’t do that again) it turned out pretty well.
Hungarians like to decorate things and they are quite good at it. In fact, certain areas of Hungary are particularly well known for their decorative arts. If you love folklore art and paintings, then you will love the many distinct Hungarian styles that are displayed here.
From what is probably the most famous, Kalocsa folk art, to other regions like the Matyó, the folkstyle decorative art is alive and thriving.
“Flowers and leaves, sometimes a bird or a spiral ornament, are the principal decorative themes. The most frequent ornament is a flower with a centerpiece resembling the eye of a peacock’s feather.” – Folk-Art-Hungary.com
You can see the identifying characteristics from patterns in the ancient forms, such as the Szekely gates (kapu), to the inclusions of the flowers and swirls in the modern illustrations of Willy Pogány, who brought his Hungarian inflected design to the covers of magazines and the pages of books in the early 20th century.
Interiors with Flowered Motifs
Kalocsa wall painting inside home
>Try Your Own Hand At Hungarian Painting
Find tutorial design guides and get your paints and brushes out.
Elements Of Magyar Style:
Color and intricate designs that recall nature in a stylized way.
Strongly cover the entire surface.
Use highly saturated pigments which create bright colors in primary and secondary hues.
Be colorful and creative like the Hungarians!
Use Folk Art Designs To Decorate Items Artistically
The photos and how-to videos on this page can be your inspiration.
Wall Painting, Pingálás, in Kalocsa Style
Can you name the flowers? Roses, dahlias, bellflowers are some of those included in this floral design.
Szekely Kapu, Highly Decorated Gates of Old Hungary
Szekely kapu renovated with bright painted colors.
History of the Szekely Kapu – Decorated Ancestral Gates of Hungary
This entry is from the Hungarian Club site.
Origins of the ancestral carved gates of Transylvania span thousands of years before [Christ] and transcend beyond the boundaries of the Carpathian Mountains to Mesopotamia and the Far East. Similar to the ancient “Silk Route” that connected Central Europe to the Far East…
This ancient art with a system of mythical symbols and richness of form is still practiced and still inspires Hungarian Szeklers of Transylvania in creating their home environment and preserving their traditions to this day. The “Székelykapu” had symbolic meaning which separated East from West artistically as well as geographically and politically
…Runic inscriptions on front of the gate “The Lord has brought thee here” while on the other side departing guests can read “The Lord be with thee”.
[Ancient decorations from Ur had similar designs to]…motifs of Hungarian but especially Transylvanian Folk Art such as the upward scrolling or spiraling lines, tree of life, sun as central motif, runic symbols, five and eight petal rose, pomegranate and cornflower.
…In the top center under the roof and pigeon loft, the traditional sign of the sun, symbol of Úr is carved and under it the ancient greeting ISTEN HOZOTT.
…the main post which separated the large wagon gate from the small walk-in gate, displayed the family history in runic writing (rovàs iràs). Each generation added its share of history and when all sides were filled, a new supporting post was hewn from oak and placed on either side of the walk-in gate.
As runic writing became obsolete, the custom of carving family history into the gateposts also faded away. Besides the inherited symbols and decorations, only the greeting, name of the homestead builder and date of completion was carved into the gate and remains as tradition in our time.”
Since these gates were a part of the estates with a wealthy class of family , they were fallen into disuse during the Communist times. Many remaining gates no longer had the painted colors that are shown in this photo.
“the Székely gates are a beautiful example of folk architecture. In 1920, after the Treaty of Trianon ceded Transylvania to Romania, many Hungarians left the region as refugees. For many, the destination of choice was Debrecen: a market town near to the new border. In addition, several faculties of the university in Kolozsvár, now Cluj-Napoca, were transferred into the university at Debrecen. As refugees, they brought only their most important possessions – often-times including their gates. Hence, Debrecen has quite a few of these old gates built into 1920s-era homes.- An American in Debrecen “
This Gate was Once Painted With Bright Color
Hungarian Gate | Source: photos from Wikipedia Commons
Ancestral Motifs
The reason embroidery has become so widespread in folk art is due to the ancient custom of dowry.
A proper Hungarian girl was expected to bring a dozen ornate pillows and embroidered sheets, two to four decorated featherbeds and six to eight embroidered tablecloths to the marriage. [1]
Ancient Church Decoration
Hungarian Painting in Church
Folk Art Painting Decorates Door Surfaces
Arts are preserved in the Kalotaszeg region. It is common to see decorated doors in kitchens and other areas of the home. Source: hungarianambiance
Create Your Own Folk Art
Like Tole painting, the folk arts of Hungary were usually practiced by the common people. Most can be accomplished with a bit of practice.
Today, this naïve style is loved as much as ever. The Hungarian version of folk art painting has the usual floral and some animal motifs, but the way the colors are chosen, as well as the covering of the object is distinctive.
Not only are the designs overall imprinted with Magyar style, but the various reqions stand out one from another in colors and motif, as discussed here in this article.
The Matyö roses and colors are comparable to Rosemaling, a Scandinavian folk art form. The Kalocsa region has much lighter palette and hand, almost a feeling of French Provence folk art- although no one would mistake one for the other.
Imagine Making Your Own Designs
Imagine a Forest: Designs and Inspirations for Enchanting Folk Art Create art with traditional styling and motifs from Folk Art. Hungarians love to decorate surfaces with this type of painting, and you can, too. Inspiration that will guide you to dream up ideas for your own decorative pieces. Buy Now
Hungarian Design
Compare the painting and embroidery motifs of Hungarian Design, they are very similar
Kalocsa Region Is most Famous for Folk Painting Today
The word Kalocsa originates from the Latin colocae which means “made from mud”.
Wallpainting is one of their most famous forms of decoration, and folk artists paint colorful flowers against the whitewashed walls of their homes. Even the outdoor mud daubed ovens do not go without decoration!
The rose and tulip are the popular favorite motifs, but pansy, forget-me-not, carnation, snapdragon, foxglove, lilac, poppy, cornflower, black locust blossom, rosemary,- and even more than that- find their portraits painted in the unique stylization of the Kalocsa artists who are mainly women.
Called “Writing Women”, they draw and then embroider their designs on white and pastel fabrics or paint them on white walls. Today, these embroidered goods are highly desired. It is believed that the decorative motifs from the embroidered clothing was the basis for the painted designs that are now used on all sorts of objects in daily life.
Fine Painted Porcelain
Other Regions Of Hungary
Harta, a community consisting mainly of German inhabitants who began arriving in 1723-24 to replenish the population and farm the land, developed some very fine decorative painting skills which they applied to furniture and small household items. The key motif is a centered bowl full of flowers.
The Swabians history of dates back to the invitation to German people to repopulate Hungary after the devastating wars with the conquering Muslim powers.
The Kalocsa Folk Art Painting How-To
An interesting look at artist drawing and then painting a Kalocsa style flower motif.
Hungarians love to cover surfaces with colorful decoration.
Painted Furniture
Painted Furniture
Matyó
From the region of Mezökövesd
A decorative style for the people of this region of Hungary. As a people they are considered of Slovakian origin.
A book on their designs says, “The Matyó people are one of the ethnographical groups that emerged relatively late. It was only in the 18th-19th centuries that the folk culture of Mezökövesd and the villages of Tard and Szentistván traditionally regarded as belonging to it became distinct from their environment, largely due to their Roman Catholic population. Their decorative art acquired its distinctive forms in this period, differing even from each other in their details. ” –The Matyó Roses After the National Exhibition in 1896, their decorative embroidery became popular.
They became famous for their rose designs, and many of their crafts have a single color, predominantly red.
Matyo folk art painting on ceramic
Hungarian Painted Pottery
Example of Herend porcelain with a fishscale design. Now known as a fishnet pattern, it is on many of the company’s creations.
Besides furniture and wall surfaces, the common pottery is painted with the same beloved motifs in the common pottery. When in Hungary, these wares are sold in road stands, and in many shops.
However, if you wish for top quality porcelain sculptures and other beautiful products, look for the name ‘Herend’.
Fine porcelains have been made since 1826 in the Herend company.
Hungarian “Writing” Design
Hungarian Artist Painting On Ceramics
Visit Hungarian Decorative Arts Vicariously
Even if you don’t understand the language, the beauty of the designs and the land speak for themselves.
Willy Pogany, Hungarian Artist
Willy Pogany Art. Hungarian folk art motifs are incorporated into his painted illustration.
Mint Tea, A Friendly Beverage with Health Benefits
Mint Leaves for Refreshing Flavor
Cool green leaves can be used fresh or dried.
Mint Tea Medicinal Effects
Even when it is served piping hot, there is something refreshing about the flavor of mint. Mint leaves have an antioxidant known as rosmarinic acid, which is anti-inflammatory and considered for relieving allergies.
It was an important plant in medicinal herb gardens of yore, as well as a delicious flavoring for food dishes. But the tea brewed from the leaves has been the simplest way to enjoy it, and the cooling effect of the compounds found in the essential oils create the refreshing feel on a hot summer’s day.
It also has analgesic and anti-spasmodic effects, relieving pain and calming. (1)
In some cultures, it has become a requisite drink that every home serves throughout the day. Moroccan Mint Tea is renowned.
Some like it spiked, and a Mint Julep crossed with sweet tea render a summertime cocktail drink.
Me? My favorite will always be the simplest hot Apple Mint tea brewed fresh from my garden plants.
Cooling Sprig of Mint
Use honey as a sweetener.
Health Benefits of Mentha Leaves
Peppermint tea is used for aiding the digestive track. Helps ease heartburn, indigestion, and nausea; although not recommended for pregnancy.
Mints of all types are widely used as breath fresheners.
Vitamins? Yes, Please
Mints contain many B-complex vitamins, besides being a good source of vitamin K. Vitamin A and beta carotene, vitamin C and vitamin E are also found in the leaves..
Nothing is easier to brew than pure herbal mint tea:
Simply pluck a handful of fresh mint leaves, crush them, add about four cups of boiling water, and infuse for about 5 to 10 minutes. Sweeten or not.
If you would like something more complex, try the recipe below.
It combines the antioxidant properties of green tea, with healthful herbs.
Nutritional Data for Spearmint
Nutrition Facts and Analysis for Spearmint, fresh [mint] It is a good source of Protein, Thiamin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Phosphorus and Zinc, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Riboflavin, Folate, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Potassium, Copper and Manganese.
Cup of mint tea
The Best Way To Brew Mint Tea
Are you making an herbal drink?
If you have dried mint leaves, put them into a tea strainer and place within a teapot full of boiling water. Steep for minutes.
For fresh mint, take 4 or 5 five inch stalks of mint, lightly crush them and add 4 cups of boiling hot water, and brew in your teapot. Allow a full five minutes to brew.
Or Is A Mint Infused Green Or Black Your Preference?
Making a summer iced tea drink is as easy as brewing “double strength” tea of either green or black tea bags. Adding one tablespoon of coarsely chopped fresh mint leaves to the hot tea, and strain after five minutes.
Cool the tea and serve over ice.
For an excellent batch of tea that yields perfect results every time, use the following recipe.
Tips on Growing Mint And Brewing An Herbal Cup
Cook Time
Prep time: 3 min
Cook time: 10 min
Ready in: 13 min
Yields: 6
Ingredients
1 to 2 teaspoons Matcha Tea, powder
sprig Thyme
sprig Basil
several sprigs Apple mint, crushed
2 cups Water
Instructions
Crush the sprigs of mint and herbs together.
Pour hot water over the crushed herbs, brew for 10 minutes.
Stir in Matcha powder
Add sweetener if desired.
Serve either hot or iced.
Types Of Mentha For Teas
Mentha × piperita
Better known as peppermint, is long known as a digestive aid. Its flavor either as an herbal tisane or as an additive to China tea is one of the most popular flavors of mint.
The plant is a cross between watermint and spearmint, it is very easy to grow in the garden or in a pot on the windowsill.
Mentha spicata
Spearmint is the flavor of choice for many, because of its milder, more mellow flavor. There are many varieties of this popular culinary herb.
Mentha suaveolens
Apple Mint is my own personal favorite for enjoying as a tea. It has a rich flavor that is mellow, the plant is super easy to grow, and it has other uses (jelly, eaten fresh, a pretty garnish), too.
“Pineapple Mint” is a variegated variant, but I don’t find its flavor is anything near what the wooly, soft green leaves of apple mint produce.
Every garden writer worth their salt will warn you of the thuggery of mint plants. I grow a stand quite well against an out building with strong growing grass edging the perimeter of the planting. The regular mowing keeps the mints in check. But if you have a cultivated flower or herb bed, you might think twice about letting the roots of a Mentha plant have a free run. Better to contain the plant in a pot, buried in the garden.
Grow apple mint as a companion plant near peas, tomatoes, broccoli and cabbage, in the vegetable patch. This is my favorite mint tea flavor!
Growing this Herb
My Ten Favorite Herbs In The Herb Garden My private list of ten favorite herbs; the ones I can’t live without. Of course I grow much more than these ten… but this is where I’d begin.
Cold weather makes us want to cozy up inside with something delicious and filling. Preferably with ingredients that we enjoyed growing up or which make us remember happy days.
For me, Chicken Paprikas is my most memorable and comfort giving chicken recipe, but for my husband it is Chicken and Dumplings. As a young wife and mother I often made Chicken Divan, or the more prosaically named “Chicken and Broccoli Casserole”.
If you are looking for good ideas of something, warm, and nourishing to cook with either chicken pieces or cooked leftover poultry, here are time tested favorites. I include the recipe for Chicken Divan here, and suggest, or give basic instructions for nine other recipes.
Economical, Tasty, Easy to Prepare
Three qualities of the classic chicken recipes our mothers and grandmothers cooked were: (1) they should be economical to make, (2) appeal to tastebuds, (3) and be easy to prepare. That last point is very important for busy people today.
Because there is a world of delicious chicken dinners out there- this cookbook delivers all sorts of recipes to keep your menus fresh and exciting. I love having new flavors for this mainstay meal. Never be at loss for the recipe you need for a family meal or a party favorite. So much more, this book is also a cooking course with details on food handling, techniques, and more.
Cook chicken beforehand, roast or stewed, and then cut into bite-size pieces. Frozen or canned pre-cooked chicken is also available for these easy recipes.
Most are casseroles:
Tetrazzini
King Ranch
A La King
Chicken and Broccoli (I always called it “Chicken Divan”)
Chicken Pot Pie
Tasty Chicken Divan
Chicken and Broccoli is classic comfort food.
Try It Tonight!
Try out this delicious chicken dish and then take a look at the list of the other nine, read a bit of culinary history and have a great meal. Bon appetit!
This recipe originated in New York at the Divan Parisien restaurant, but American cooks everywhere took the basic ingredients and method and made many recipes that included the time saving ingredients of the day (Campbell soups, in particular).
It doesn’t take that much effort to make the Mornay sauce, duplicating the original and making it more healthful. This way it returns to our table with less salt and without additives.
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 40 min
Ready in: 1 hour
Yields: 4 servings
2 boxes or 2 bunches Broccoli, frozen or fresh
4 Chicken Breasts, boneless
3 tablespoons Flour
3 tablespoons Butter
3/4 cup Chicken Broth
1/2 cup Milk, or Half and Half
1/3 cup Cooking Sherry
1/2 cup Gruyère Cheese, shredded
1/2 cup Parmesan, shredded or grated
1 tablespoon lemon juice
More Parmesan to cover
Buttered bread crumbs, for top (optional)
Cooked Rice for 4 people
Cook the chicken breasts in simmering water. Or use 4 cups of rotisserie meat.
Thaw frozen or cook fresh broccoli until just tender. Steaming lends more nutrition to the meal. 2 – 3 minutes
Preheat oven to 375°F
Make Mornay Sauce: In heavy saucepan melt the butter; whisk in the flour; pour in milk and whisk; cook until thick. Add cheeses. Stir in wine, add salt and pepper to taste.
Butter casserole dish; layer broccoli, chicken and sauce. Repeat layers. Sprinkle all with more Parmesan cheese. Add some buttered breadcrumbs if desired.
Bake 35 – 40 minutes. Serve over rice.
Try These All American Favorites
These recipes are tried and true All American favorites. Often easy to fix, nourishing, and one dish made them staples for busy families. Using leftovers for economy, if you haven’t tried them lately, it is time to put old fashioned home cooking back in your life again.
Roast Chicken Recipes
Many good recipes start out with cooked chicken. Learn how to roast a chicken for your meals.
King Ranch Casserole
Bit O’ History
Chicken Tetrazzini:
invented early in the twentieth century and named after Italian opera star, Luisa Tetrazzini. This casserole has many guises, but can be made with chicken and boasts a flavorful cream and wine sauce poured over spaghetti noodles and baked.
King Ranch Casserole:
Not from the King Ranch, this casserole gives chicken South Texas flavors. It is so venerable and beloved in its Tex-Mex territory that some think it should be designated the Texan state dish. “Texas take on chicken à la king”
Basically, make a white sauce with chicken stock, add sauteed mushrooms, bell peppers, onion, and a few green chiles, minced garlic and Ro-Tel (nothing takes the place of a can of Ro-Tel). Then moisten tortillas with chicken stock, layer tortillas, sauce, and then cooked chicken, with layers of shredded cheese (Jack or similar type), lasagna-style. Bake.
Chicken A La King
This predates King Ranch and is considered the base for it. A casserole that uses cooked chicken and vegetables in a creamy sauce. It is a family favorite for generations. The story according to Epicurious is:
E. Clarke King of Dayton, Ohio, sent us “the original recipe,” which he claimed had been invented by George Greenwald, head chef at New York’s Brighton Beach Hotel, for his parents (who owned the hotel) in the early 1900s.
Chicken Divan
Originally created by a chef in the Divan Parisienne Restaurant in the New York Chatham Hotel, this became a mainstream favorite when Mom’s everywhere discovered how easy it was to make. It combines chicken, broccoli, savory seasoning in a cream sauce.
5 Recipes For Uncooked Chicken:
Start with raw chicken pieces that you either cut up yourself, or buy as your favorite chicken parts.
Chicken and Dumplings
Coq Au Vin
Chicken Paprikash
Spanish Rice and Chicken (Arroz Con Pollo)
Filipino Chicken Adobo
French Comfort: Coq Au Vin
French Coq Au Vin
10 Fantastic, Classic Chicken Dishes
Soy Sauce Marinated Legs with Asian Flavor
Authentic Chicken Adobo
Famous Hungarian Chicken Paprikash Make authentic Hungarian Paprikas and delight your friend and family. The underestimated cuisine that is world class deliciousness has a number of key recipes. This is one of the finest.
The Story Behind Famous National Poultry Dishes
French, Hungarian, Asian cuisines are famous far beyond the borders of the countries represented by them. Why have they become so famous? The answer may be no more mysterious than the delicious flavor that crosses borders effortlessly.
Coq au Vin
The English translation of “rooster in wine” is not as evocative a name as the original French one. The slow cooking and hearty ingredients combined with the rich flavor of the wine makes familiar fare magnifique. The story goes that King Henri IV of France promised every home a “chicken in their pot”, and a French chef, Paul Bocuse, arose to the occasion with this braised stew.
Chicken and Dumplings
Beloved all over America, but especially by German immigrants and Southerners, this is a one pot stew. Although there is speculation about the origins, I favor the idea that many Europeans loved this as a variation of their noodle dishes- the dumpling being something of a large, fat noodle!
Perhaps it came to popularity once again during the Great Depression, but it predates that time by centuries.
Hungarian Paprikas
Not possible before the Ottoman empire imported New World peppers sometime during the 16th century, the Hungarian paprika spice is now the emblem of all Hungary’s cookery. Matched with a cooling dollop of sour cream to the sauce, and chicken is transformed into a delight.
Filipino Chicken Adobo
This may be the unofficial national maindish, but it is the most recognizable Philippine entrée to most of us. The method of marinating predates the Spanish name of “adobo”, and the flavors of soy sauce and ginger are a basic part of Asian cooking. I think the resulting flavor is addictive- it is that delicious.
Delectable Dumplings
Chicken and Dumplings |
Poultry
Many recipes calling for cooked chicken can be made with turkey instead, and vice versa.
Dice Cooked Chicken into Bite-sized Pieces
Many great home cooked recipes use cooked chicken that is cut into chunks.
10 Meals To Make With Roast Chicken First roast a chicken, it’s easy! Then choose to make any of 10 delicious delicious dishes inspired by fine world cuisines.
Tip: Take Time to Cook
The quickest way to whip up a meal is to use pre-cooked ingredients, but for economical and more nutritious meals home cooked from scratch is best. The best of both can be accomplished with combining days when you cook enough chickento be used in casseroles which call for ready cooked meat, AND use freshly purchased poultry to use in dishes such as roasted and stewed meals.
Designate “cooking days” when you make more time intensive meals. Save the cooked chicken in storage bags or containers for later in the week.
Chicken and Rice
Delish Chicken Casserole -made savory with mushroom, rosemary, and sherry wine.<
Arroz con Pollo
Which Chicken Dish Meets Your Comfort Expectations?
So, I made a new design for a t-shirt because lately I have been purchasing items from my designs to check the quality, and I wanted a nice t-shirt. Here it is:
The two items I bought thus far are a mug for one of my daughters and a pedestal sign for another daughter.The designs looked so good, I surprised myself, and Zazzle quality did not disappoint.
First, the mug:
It was good quality ceramic, with a slightly glossy sheen. The design was one of the more subtle in color, so I wasn’t sure how it would turn out, but it was soooo pretty ( if I do say so, myself). The printing was outstanding.
I had tweaked the design from the original, to make the resolution tighter (reduced size of image), but that was not necessary. I think the slightly larger size or the original is the better choice, although the one I ordered had such a refined look to it, that it was totally pleasing, too.
I think any customer would be super happy with it too.
Next, the sign
The subtle mauve and pink colors were just gorgeous. The printing was perfect. This sign is one that you usually have for event like showers or weddings. That is because I made a mistake ordering that type for my daughter to have on her shelf.
She liked it anyway, but now I wish I gotten the wall plaque or something- not because anything is wrong with the product, but because a wall plaque or something like that is easier to fit into home decor. The pedestal sign would be super cute for a kids room, though. ( which is what I originally designed it for.
Apricot stuffed roast chicken is going to become a holiday alternative to plain Jane turkey in your family recipe repertoire. This particular recipe is very rich in flavor.
The meal can’t be boring when adding jammy apricot glazed roast chicken that has a bread stuffing infused with herbs, tangy apricot pieces, and pecans.
When poultry is stuffed, it creates a much moister meat, as well as a side dish that cooks along with the main course.
Apricot Stuffed Roast Chicken
- Not just for holidays, get stuffed anytime-
Stuffing will make the cooking times longer, but takes care of the side dish by providing a savory dressing. I like it with fruit flavors, apricot here, but orange or apple could be substituted.
Rub chicken inside and out with the salt, pepper, (and poultry seasoning if desired)
Sauté onion, parsley, and celery in the butter until tender. Add the apricots and cook for a few minutes.
In a large bowl add the vegetables to the bread stuffing, add the nuts and pour in chicken broth. Mix well. Stuff the chicken.
Roast the chicken, basting with juices. After the roast has cooked for an hour and a half mix 1/4 cup of apricot jam with some juices from the roast, brush onto the roast for the last half hour or so of cooking.
Notes
Tips Be sure to stuff the chicken only right before cooking it. Be sure to remove all the stuffing after cooking and refrigerate leftovers separately from the chicken meat. Internal temperature should register 175° when done.
Wondering what you wish to serve with the finished bird and beautiful stuffing? Side dishes of tender broccoli, perhaps some Mediterranean-style accompaniments, or a fennel dish. A garnish of olives, a dish of balsamic carrots or creamy potato leek soup would complement this, as well.
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