Before I turned on the computer tonight I was looking
through some old notebooks, searching for something I wrote in high school,
intending that to be the subject of this post.
I was not successful finding what I was looking for, but realized that
each of the notebooks I found was a time capsule. The one that stays with me is from Hillary’s
first year or so of life.
It begins
with a record of a dream that I had which although was of a somewhat disturbing
nature ultimately left me with a peaceful feeling upon awakening. There are several diary type entries about
Hillary’s development, diagnosis, and prognosis; as well as my hopes for her
life. There are notes from doctor’s
visits and phone calls, test results and questions I wanted to ask (and did,
and recorded the answers). I found the
spelling of my friends’ daughter's name and the birth information for my neighbor's
second child. There is the phone number for my sister-in-law’s hospital room
from when she had brain surgery, and a few notes about bills that needed paying. There were a couple of rather poignant poems
I wrote, and a page that Anna drew on with a red marker. On the covers are some scribbled phone
numbers and the license plate number for another sister-in-law’s car, along
with some doodles and dates. On the
final two pages are a recipe I copied from somewhere for a casserole.
Looking
through that notebook was a quick look at a very stressful, eventful time and I’m
glad I have it, to help me remember how things started with our special needs
journey, and to see how far we’ve come.
It was a bittersweet thing to find and reflect upon, but I’m so glad I
have it.
`` `` `` `` ``
Here is the recipe on the final pages of the notebook:
Hungarian
Kielbasa & Noodle Casserole
Prep: 20 min.
Cook: 43 min.
1 lb. potatoes, cut into ½ “ pieces
½ lb. extra wide egg noodles
2 Tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1 large onion, chopped (1 ½ cups)
1 ½ teaspoon paprika
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup chicken broth
½ lb. kielbasa, cut in half lengthwise & thinly
sliced
1.)
Grease a 2 qt. casserole. Heat oven to 375 F. Place potatoes in a large
saucepot of lightly salted cold water.
Cook over high heat until water comes to boil. Reduce heat & simmer
about 10 min. until just tender. Remove
potatoes with slotted spoon & set aside. Add noodles to simmering water in
same saucepot & cook 5 min. or until just tender. Drain well & return to saucepot.
2.)
While potatoes are cooking, heat butter &
oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion & cook 8-10 min, stirring
occasionally, until tender & lightly browned.
3.)
Add diced cooked potatoes, paprika & salt
to onions in skillet. Cook, tossing, 2
min. or until potatoes are golden red.
Add chicken broth & boil 1 min.
Pour potato mixture over noodles & toss to mix well.
4.)
Pour mixture into casserole. Toss kielbasa over the top, tucking some
pieces into noodles. Bake 20 min. or
until heated through.
