-=> Ben Collver wrote to Dave Drum <=-

 DD> I am by no means "religious". And I think all religions look pretty silly
 DD> when viewed from the outside using cold logic. But there are those who do
 DD> follow some particular superstition which the administrators of that sect
 DD> have micro-defined. For instance the dairy - meat stricture come from the
 DD> biblical admonition "You shall not seethe a kid [young goat] in his
 DD> mother's milk." taken to illogical extremes.

 BC> If i recall correctly, the echo rules exclude political discussion but
 BC> not religious discussion.  So i figure it's fair game.

 BC> I imagine that it was a much more common experience 3,000 years ago for
 BC> a human being to decide what to do with a kid and the mother's milk.
 BC> The story i tell myself is that this rule must have come from an
 BC> intention of kindness.  If holding on to a 3,000 year old dietary rule
 BC> helps one stay mindful of one's decisions with respect to kindness,
 BC> then yay!  Mission accomplished.

I have no problem with "loving kindness". I do have a problem with some
of the hypocrites preaching it. One time the rabble-rousers fromm PETA
were holding na demonstration (and blocking the sidewalk as well as much
of the street) in front of a department store over some fur coats. I
listened to as much of it as I could stomach - then effectively shut down
the jerk with the bullhorn with one simple question - "Excuse me, please,
Are those leather shoes you're wearing?" And there went his credibility.

My problem with strictures such as boiling a kid goast in its mother's
milk get taken to the heights of ridiculosity by the people running the
religon. Like the strictures against eating pork (more than one religon)
which were common sense when trichinosis was commen and sanitation wan
not so developed. But trichinosis has been effective;y wiped out and the
onset of refrigeration and sanitation standards have become common. Yet
the anti-pork brigades still hold sway over some people's diet.

 BC> Here's a recipe for black bean brownies.  Because there are people in
 BC> my life who have a medical diagnosis for gluten intolerance.

We have members here who suffer from celiac - or their nears and dears 
do.

MMMMM----- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.06

      Title: Gluten-Free Hot Cross Buns
 Categories: Breads, Fruits, Spices, Dairy
      Yield: 8 buns

      2 ts Yeast
      1 ts Sugar
    1/2 c  Warm water
    3/4 c  Raisins or currants
  2 1/2 c  BobrCOs Red Mill gluten-free
           - 1-to-1 baking flour
      1 ts Salt
    1/2 c  Sugar
      1 ts Vinnamon
      2 ts Baking powder
      1 ts Baking soda
      1 c  Warm milk
      1 lg Egg
    1/2 c  Oil
      1 c  Confectioner's sugar
      1 c  Vanilla
      2 tn (to 3 tb) milk

  Set oven @ 400-|F/205-|C.

  Mix the yeast and sugar in 1/2 cup warm water.

  Let stand for 10 minutes until foamy.

  Soak raisins (or currants) in 1 cup hot water to plump
  them up.

  Set aside.

  In a large bowl, whisk together flour, salt, sugar, 
  cinnamon, baking powder and baking soda.

  In a large pot, heat 1 cup milk until very hot but not
  boiling.

  Let the milk rest until warm.

  Whisk egg and vegetable oil into the warm milk.

  Add the rest of the dry ingredients, proofed yeast and
  drained raisins to the milk mixture, and stir until
  combined.

  The dough should be wet and sticky.

  Cover dough with a towel and place in a warm, dark
  place to rise for about an hour.

  Dough should double in size.

  Turn dough over onto a well-floured surface and gently
  shape into a ball.

  Divide the dough into 8 equal parts.

  Shape each piece into a ball and place on a parchment
  lined baking sheet.

  Let the dough rest until each bun has doubled in size.

  Bake buns for 12 to 15 minutes, until nice and golden.

  Remove buns and let cool.

  In a small bowl, combine the confectioner's sugar,
  vanilla and milk.

  Whisk vigorously until there are no more clumps.

  Icing should be nice and thick.

  If itrCOs too thick, add more milk 1 teaspoon at a time.

  Transfer the icing to a piping bag and pipe an X over each bun.

  Serve.

  Recipe courtesy of Catherine Pappas

  RECIPE FROM: https://www.thedailymeal.com

  Uncle Dirty Dave's Archives

MMMMM

... God is not dead but alive and well and working on a less ambitious project.
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