Saying “NO”

How hard can it be? 

It's only a two letter word, yet it is so uncomfortable for some people.

The word is NO and it seems so difficult to say, but it's really important to learn, if you want self respect and freedom.

Saying no is a basic human right.

People seem to wait until it's too late to avoid the discomfort of saying no.

If you make yourself clear ahead of time, letting it be known for instance, you don't go out weeknights, you aren't available to baby sit on weekends, you don't loan money...etc...there won't be as many situations to make you feel stressed, guilty or fearful. 

The other issue that we see, is this unnecessary need to explain yourself.

Instead of just saying a definite "No,"people try to explain the "No" and that just makes everything worse.

When you are busy explaining yourself, you personify uneasiness and you look like you're desperate, looking for any nod of approval, rambling on with unnecessary half apologies.

Saying "No" means sometimes people are going to be disappointed and upset with you. 

Honestly, that’s their problem.

But it’s ok, allow them the right to be upset and allow yourself the right to say no, instead of making promises you don't really want to make.

All this saying “no” business may be uncomfortable and you may even feel guilty, perhaps that's why people give in as soon as they feel uncomfortable guilt.

Allowing the uncomfortable to weaken you sends unsteady and unstable messages to everyone, including yourself.   

So, feel the guilt, be uncomfortable, experience it. 

You'll discover that the more you do it the easier it gets, and when you do say yes, the yes carries a lot more meaning.

Suggestions for Saying No.

Be direct, “no, I can’t” or “no, I don’t want to.”

Don’t apologize or feel you need to explain yourself.

Don’t lie. Lying will make you feel guilty—and you don't want to feel guilty.

Remember that it is better to say no now than to resent it later.

Have good manners,“Thanks for asking.”

Don’t tell people “You'll think about it” if you don’t want to do it. 

Remember that your self-worth does not depend on others.

We don't have to be all things to all people.

So, there it is.

If you are struggling with this issue, hope this post was helpful.

Besides, saying “NO” is a great protection spell.

Detach From Negativity

Do you ever feel like this?

It doesn’t matter if it comes from, friends, family, church, co- workers or the media, if you feel the negativity, you need to take action.

Maybe it’s time to detach from negativity and anything that creates it.

Only you can decide when it’s time to let go.

The Pagan Kitchen Pumpkin Pie

 

Pumpkin pie is popular in the United States and Canada, but in other parts of the world, not so much.

1621 – Early American settlers of Plimoth Plantation (1620-1692), the first permanent European settlement in southern New England, might have made pumpkin pies (of sorts) by making stewed pumpkins or by filling a hollowed out shell with milk, honey and spices, and then baking it in hot ashes. 

An actual present-day pumpkin pie with crust is a myth, as ovens to bake pies were not available in the colony at that stage.

Northeastern Native American tribes grew squash and pumpkins. 

They roasted or boiled them for eating. Historians think that the settlers were not very impressed by the Indians’ squash and/or pumpkins until they had to survive their first harsh winter when about half of the settlers died from scurvy and exposure. 

The Native Americans brought pumpkins as gifts to the first settlers, and taught them the many used for the pumpkin. 

This is what developed into pumpkin pie about 50 years after the first Thanksgiving in America.

1651 – Francois Pierre la Varenne, the famous French chef and author of one of the most important French cookbooks of the 17th century, wrote a cookbook called Le Vrai Cuisinier Francois (The True French Cook). 

It was translated and published in England as The French Cook in 1653. 

It has a recipe for a pumpkin pie that included the pastry:

Tourte of pumpkin – Boile it with good milk, pass it through a straining pan very thick, and mix it with sugar, butter, a little salt and if you will, a few stamped almonds; let all be very thin. Put it in your sheet of paste; bake it. After it is baked, besprinkle it with sugar and serve.

As for our Pumpkin Pie recipe, if you give it a try, we do hope you enjoy it.

Ingredients

Crust

¼cup butter, softened

¼cup shortening

1¼cups all-purpose flour

1Tbsp granulated sugar

¼tsp salt

1egg yolk

2Tbsp ice water

Filling

3eggs

115 oz can pumpkin

½cup granulated sugar

¼cup packed dark brown sugar

1tsp ground cinnamon

½tsp salt

½tsp ground ginger

¼tsp ground cloves

¼tsp ground nutmeg

¾cup whole milk

¼cup heavy cream

Directions

Crust

Beat together butter and shortening until smooth and creamy.

Chill till firm

Sift together flour, sugar and salt in medium bowl

Using a pastry knife or fork, cut the chilled butter and shortening into the dry ingredients until the flour is mixed in and it has a crumbly texture.

Mix egg yolk and ice water into the dough with a spoon then form it into a ball with your hands.

Don't work the dough too much or your crust will lose its flakiness. 

Flakey crust is good crust.

Cover dough ball with plastic wrap to sit until the filling is ready.

Filling

Beat eggs.

Add pumpkin and stir well to combine

Combine sugars, cinnamon, salt, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg in a small bowl.

Stir spice mixture into the pumpkin.

Mix in milk and cream.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

While oven preheats let filling sit so that it can come closer to room temperature.

Unwrap pie dough, then roll it flat on a floured surface and line a 9 inch pie dish.

When oven is hot pour filling into pie shell, and bake for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 and bake for another 50 to 60 minutes or until a knife stuck in the middle comes out clean.

Cool pie, then chill. Slice chilled pie into 6 pieces to serve restaurant size portions. Whipped cream on top is optional but highly recommended.

Here’s a conversion chart, just in case:

If you feel artsy,

you can design a moon and stars pie crust top. 

Cut your design and bake it.

Allow to cool and place on top of your cooled pumpkin pie.

Roasting Turkey Tips

For those of you roasting a turkey for any occasion, here are a few tips...

If you plan on using a brine and you want a simple recipe that will make your turkey especially delicious, here you go...

1/2 cup salt

1/2 cup sugar

1 gallon water or enough to completely cover the bird

Few peeled cloves of garlic

Sprigs of rosemary, sage & thyme

Dissolve salt in a cold or room temperature water, add the sugar and mix throughly.

Add the herbs. 

Allow to set overnight in the fridge or in an ice chest cooler (with ice)

When ready to roast, remove the turkey and throughly rinse off all the brine.

That’s it.