American Forces

Red, White, and Blueberry Beet Salad

thumbnail_Facetune.jpg

Reprinted from July 2019

Here’s a fun, festive, 4th of July salad for your holiday table. My sister made this one up just for the occasion (and because she knows I LOVE beets, even if she doesn’t!)

It calls for 4 very basic ingredients as well as a basic vinaigrette dressing made with red-wine vinegar. You can whisk one up yourself, or use a bottled one you’ve purchased, whichever get’s the job done to your satisfaction and gets you out of the kitchen and back into the celebration as quickly as possible.

You’ll wow your guests (or your hosts) when you place this on the banquet table!

Red, White, and Blueberry Beet Salad

Ingredients:

  • 5-6 large beets, peeled, cooked (you may boil or roast - your choice), cooled, and cubed

  • 2 pints of blueberries, washed and drained

  • 6-8 ounces feta cheese, crumbled

  • a bed of baby spinach

For the dressing:

  • ½ cup olive oil

  • 4 tablespoons red wine vinegar

  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

  • 1 tablespoon honey or agave syrup

  • 2 medium cloves garlic, pressed or minced

  • ¼ teaspoon fine kosher salt, to taste

  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Directions:

  1. Make the vinaigrette dressing:

    1. In a liquid measuring cup or bowl, combine all of the ingredients except oil. Stir well with a small whisk.

    2. Drop a single drop of oil into the mixture and whisk briskly, add another drop and continue to whisk, then add remaining oil in a stream, continuing to whisk until well blended.

    3. Taste, and adjust as necessary.

  2. Place cooked cubed beets in large bowl, add blueberries, pour viniagrette over top and mix well.

  3. Place baby spinach leaves on serving platter.

  4. Layer dressed beets and blueberries over the top of spinach, then sprinkle liberally with crumbled feta cheese.

  5. Refrigerate until serving.

Enjoy this salad, bursting with red, white, and blue flavor, as we celebrate our great nation’s birthday! I hope your 4th full of your favorite ingredients, and mixes up to be a happy and safe holiday!

The Immortals & In Times of Rain and War | June Book Club

EA9999DE-15F8-4569-8608-187F62E8AAB6.jpeg

You know how sometimes you’re out to dinner and at the end of a delicious meal, after you’ve eaten so much you think you might simply burst… they roll out that desert cart??? And once presented with all the delicious options, not only can you not indulge, but you can’t even limit your choice to just one of possibilities in front of you?  

Well, that’s what it was like when it came time to pick this month’s book club title…

So let me introduce to you not one, but TWO terrific reads for the month that summer, sunshine, and some long lazy weekends (perfect for lounging, picnicking, and reading) present themselves, “The Immortals” & “In Times of Rain and War.”


BUY LINK

The first of the two, The Immortals, by Steven T. Collins, is an incredible work of non-fiction that tells the story of the four famous chaplains serving the SS Dorchester, and the previously unsung fifth hero who risked his life when the ship went down in World War II with over 900 men on board.

Screen Shot 2021-05-26 at 12.35.43 PM.png

“In 1943, German U-boats lurked in the icy waters of the North Atlantic, anxious to bring down Allied ships. 

By the time the four chaplains aboard the Dorchester descended into the lower holds, the troops knew something was going on; an announcement had blared over the loudspeakers. It was vague. The ship was entering into troubled waters. Submarines were estimated in the vicinity. They were told to put on their life jackets and clothes just to be safe. Tensions were rising. 

For the first time in print, this gripping narrative features the largely untold story of a fifth hero, Charles Walter David Jr., a young Black petty officer aboard a Coast Guard cutter who risked his life over and over again, even with hypothermia setting in, to try and rescue the men from the torpedoed Dorchester. 

Page-turning and inspiring, The Immortals explores the power of both faith and sacrifice and powerfully narrates the lives of five heroic men who believed in something greater than themselves, giving their all for people of vastly different beliefs and backgrounds.”

More information, the buy link, and a lovely video book trailer
for The Immortals can all be found HERE.


BUY LINK

The second volume in this Father’s Day pack is a phenomenal work of historical fiction, In Times of Rain and War, by Camron Wright, author of the best-selling novel, The Rent Collector.

Screen Shot 2021-05-26 at 12.38.28 PM.png

“In September of 1940, during the Blitz in London, Audrey Stocking is blending in with other civilians who are trying to survive the nightly bombings, but she has a secret. She’s not British; she’s German. Her fake passport and nearly perfect English allow her to blend in as she works hard to help evacuate British children into the countryside. Audrey longs to reunite with her family in Germany, but her double life, the bombings, and the watchful British Military Intelligence have forced her to stay put. And then there are the paralyzing nightmares . . .

Lieutenant Wesley Bowers, an American soldier training with London’s Bomb Disposal Company 5, meets Audrey when an air raid leaves an unexploded bomb on the floor of her flat. She is attractive, intelligent, and compassionate, and there’s an immediate connection between them. As they get to know each other, Wesley realizes Audrey is the one bright spot amid the war’s unending bleakness and constant threat of death. But will he still feel the same if he discovers the secrets she is hiding? Secrets even Audrey is unaware of?"

In Times of Rain and War is a gripping and heartbreakingly beautiful story about the strength and resilience of the human heart and spirit, reminding us there is always hope in hard times.”

You can find additional information, the buy link, and a great video
book trailer for In Times of Rain and War HERE.


Memorial Day having been so recently commemorated, my thoughts and emotions have been with all the brave men and women who have served our country so valiantly, some paying the ultimate price for our freedoms.

These two books, both from the World War II era, seem the perfect match to my mood and musings, and perhaps to yours as well. Each are steeped in rich historical narrative and resplendent with tantalizing characters.

Go ahead, immerse yourself in the decadent delight of The Immortals & In Times of Rain and War, I won’t judge you because you couldn’t choose just one!

Delilah Logo.png


Veterans: Make The Connection!

Vet Mental Health.jpg

May is Mental Health Month, and before we turn a page on the calendar, I wanted to take the opportunity to spread the word about an organization that helps our military heroes called Make The Connection.

By nature, military service exposes our brave men and women to traumatic events. While trained to act and react in the moment for the best possible outcome, the emotional imprints can last long after service has ended. Most of us could never comprehend the situations they find themselves in…

There are millions of Veterans and family members who have needed support during tough times. Their lives got better. And so can yours, or that person you’re concerned for, because there’s a place to turn to: MakeTheConnection.net 

Make The Connection is an online resource designed to connect Veterans, their family members, friends, and other supporters, with information, resources, and solutions to issues affecting their lives. There, you can hear personal stories of recovery from Veterans that have served during many different time periods such as: Post-9/11 Era (2001 - Present), Desert Era (1990 - 2000), Post-Vietnam War Era (1976 - 1989), Vietnam War Era (1960 - 1975), Post Korean War Era (1954 - 1959), and, WW II through Korean War Era (1941 - 1953).

They've worn the uniform, shared similar experiences, and found a supportive path to recovery by reaching out for help. If you, or someone you know could use some support, this is the place to come.

I simply can’t begin to express how much gratitude I have for our active military members and the Veteran’s who have served! I want to think that anyone needing support can find it, because they are owed that. For everything our freedom providers do for us, kindness, caring, and tangible support is that least that they should receive in return. That’s why I’m honored to share the services of Make The Connection.

Need some help? Get it here! Make The Connection.

Thank you for your service and for the safety and freedom it provides for all of us! I am so very humbled and grateful!

Delilah Logo.png


Two Great Fall Movies | Unbroken & Indivisible

Screen Shot 2018-09-07 at 11.55.24 AM.png

Unbroken: Path to Redemption
In theaters September 14th

Unbroken: Path to Redemption

Unbroken_Poster.jpg

Based on Laura Hillenbrand’s bestselling book Unbroken, and the 2014 film of the same name, Unbroken: Path to Redemption, called a spiritual successor to the first movie, tells the rest of WWII veteran Louis Zamperini's story after his liberation from a Japanese prison camp and return home from World War II.

Unbroken: Path to Redemption takes off where the film Unbroken, left off.  In that, we saw Louis as a bombardier who crash landed in the ocean due to engine failure and floated on a raft for 47 days before becoming a prisoner of war. This is the rest of the story: 

Haunted by his experiences as a Japanese POW, Louis doesn't think of himself as a hero, anything but, actually. In fictional romance, Louis' love for Cynthia, whom he married in 1946, would be the only balm necessary for his wounds, but as reality would have it, their marriage is being held prisoner by Louis' past and his wrathful quest for revenge is driving him deeper into despair, putting the couple on the brink of divorce.   

This is the story of how Cynthia finds a born-again faith in the Lord at a Christian revival crusade led by Billy Graham in 1949. Renewing her commitment to the marriage she had all but given up on, and to Louis. Now, her most fervent prayer is for God to help Louie find the peace and forgiveness he so desperately needs.

Unbroken: Path to Redemption stars Samuel Hunt, as Zamperini, as well as evangelist Will Graham portraying his grandfather. It opens September 14th in theaters everywhere bringing to life the rest of this powerful real-life story of forgiveness, redemption, and amazing grace.

Watch the Trailer & Get Tickets


Indivisible
In theaters October 26th

Indivisible

Screen Shot 2018-09-07 at 11.48.10 AM.png

Every marriage faces challenges. The small every day type that come with the reality of two people living in close proximity, ever jostling to give one another the right balance of attention and space. And the large ones that accompany unexpected circumstances - upsets, upheavals, sickness, and the unknown.

INDIVISiBLE is based on the true story of Army Chaplain Darren Turner and his wife Heather who, with a strong, faith-filled marriage, are ready to follow their calling: serving God, family, and country. Idealism is met with the reality of an abrupt and lengthy deployment in Iraq, the horrors of war, of lonliness, of two realities that are so very different from one another.

Darren and Heather have anchored themselves as pillars of strength amongst those who need it the most; the deployed soldiers fighting to stay alive, and the families left behind tensing at every phone call and knock at the door. Who can they cling to when realizing that they too have been deeply wounded by this incomprehensalbe experience?

INDIVISIBLE, is the story of one marriage … one family … under God.
In theaters beginning October 26, starring Sarah Drew, Justin Bruening, Jason George, Tia Mowry, and Madeline Carroll.

Watch the Trailer


Now through September 9th, you can enter my Red Carpet Movie Flyaway Sweepstakes for an opportunity to win a trip for two (2) people to fly to Memphis, Tennessee to watch INDIVISIBLE on October 2, 2018 at the Orpheum Theater in downtown Memphis! 

The sweepstakes package includes:

  • Round trip coach airfare for TWO people

  • Two nights hotel accommodations

  • Two tickets to the red carpet movie event

  • And a $100 cash gift card!

Memphis is waiting for you!


ENTER NOW

A Portrait of a Boy

Zachariah by Michael Reagan

Zachariah by Michael Reagan

Recently I was gifted the most remarkable thing; a portrait of my son, Zachariah.

There is a man, by the name of Michael G. Reagan, an internationally recognized artist who has an amazing heart and an amazing talent. I heard of Michael's work some years ago. He has drawn over 4500 portraits of fallen soldiers, providing them to surviving families, free of charge.

Screen Shot 2018-02-28 at 5.22.36 PM.png

He has also provided portraits of children lost to violence in schools, including all victims of Columbine, Sandy Hook, and the many other horrific school shootings. He is working currently on the most recent Florida victims.

Michael lives in the same corner of the world as I do and our paths have crossed a few times. He drew my portrait, which hangs in my studio, many years ago, and a few years back attended one of my Fall Harvest parties which was a military theme, honoring our men and women in uniform.

After I lost Zack, Michael wrote to me and asked me to send him some photos of my son, he chose one that I think best captured Zack's spirit; in it he is wearing his green beanie, snowboarding jacket, and a mysterious smile. 

Michael visited me at the farm recently and presented me with Zacky's portrait, which brought me to my knees. I am eternally grateful to Michael for this gift, and for the abundant generosity of his heart.

You can learn more about Michael and the remarkable work that he does at the
< Fallen Heroes Project >
Donations are gratefully accepted.
 

A Few of My Favorite Things | New Christmas Music!

Screen Shot 2017-11-11 at 2.10.44 PM.png

Here comes Santa Claus with his sleigh full of musical gifts!

There are so many great Christmas albums out this year, and I'll be playing selections from each on the air.  Here's a sampling of some of my favorites:

 

Five For Fighting | Christmas Where You Are

image001.jpg

Five For Fighting's new single, Christmas Where You Are, ft. Jim Brickman is special. Very special. Exceptionally special. Why? It honors our troops. Those whom I am so dearly fond of, who stand up and say "I will" protect our country, protect our people, protect our freedoms. These are the same men and women who very often find themselves separated from family and loved ones at Christmas and other holidays. 

Listen to Christmas Where You Are.
(But grab a tissue before you do!)

BUY THE SINGLE


for King & Country | Christmas, LIVE from Phoenix. 

for KING & COUNTRY_600 x 600_with logo.png

If you don't know about for KING & COUNTRY, you should! This incredibly famous Christian pop duo, who credit U2, OneRepublic, the Beatles and Goo Goo Dolls as influences, have an awesome sound. Their version of The Little Drummer Boy is unique and amazing! A great stocking stuffer for music lovers on your list.  Available now everywhere.

LISTEN to Little Drummer Boy

BUY THE ALBUM


Holidays Rule | Volume 2  

HolidaysRuleVol2-Cover.jpg

Collaboration is a beautiful thing. Especially so when it comes to great artists and lovely music! A new album from Capitol records, Holidays Rule, Volume 2, is today’s artists with wonderfully fresh takes on holiday classics. A joyful and diverse collection of seasonal music featuring an array of superstars including Paul McCartney with his spirited new version of Wonderful Christmastime featuring, Jimmy Fallon and The Roots! Interested now, aren't you?! 

BUY THE ALBUM


Lindsey Stirling | Warmer in the Winter

Screen Shot 2017-11-10 at 2.46.43 PM.png

Do you remember when dancer/performance artist/violinist, Lindsey Stirling, visited the farm earlier this year? She was so delightful and while she was there, became a 'mother' to a brand new baby goat we named "Stirling" in her honor! Lindsey has a new holiday CD, Warmer In The Winter.

The album features renditions of holiday classics like Jingle Bells, the gorgeous Angels We Have Heard On High, and a playful You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch. And, on her newly penned original, Christmas C'Mon she teams up with guest vocalist, Becky G!!

You can catch Lindsey on tour by following this link:  TOUR

BUY THE ALBUM


Pentatonix | A Pentatonix Christmas Deluxe

Take one listen to Away in a Manger and you'll know that Pentatonix has done it yet again. The incredible harmonies and sound effects that define this group is still hauntingly beautiful. I could listen to them all day and all night! The new Deluxe album features Jennifer Hudson on How Great Thou Art.

Don't miss their holiday special, Monday, November 27th at 10pm ET/PT on NBC! 

BUY THE ALBUM


SIA | Every Day is Christmas

sia art.jpg

The fun and talented Sia gifts us with her brand new holiday album, Every Day is Christmas! For those who crave a little new with all the old classics, this is the album for you. SIA has written and composed  modern-day holiday songs that will be the next generations classics like Santa’s Coming For Us, Candy Cane Lane, Sunshine, and the so-adorable-it-can’t-be-real, Puppies Are Forever. 

BUY THE ALBUM


Train | Christmas in Tahoe DELUXE

train cover.jpg

One of my favorite bands is back this year with a DELUXE version of their holiday album Christmas in Tahoe. With 17 tracks on the album, there are old and new favorites.

Run Run Rudolph and Blue Christmas, This Christmas, and Shake up Christmas are all included as well as bonus tracks like, Please Come Home for Christmas.

Put a little Christmas Train under your tree!

BUY THE ALBUM

 


Trolls | Trolls Holiday  

Trolls Holiday Cover Art.jpeg

Troll lo lo lo lo, lo lo, lo lo... Trolls are back this sparkling season with a brand new holiday album and TV show, Trolls Holiday. The seven-track album features musical performances from the entire cast. The gang is all back including Anna Kendrick as Poppy, Justin Timberlake as Branch, and Zooey Deschanel as Bridget. Trolls Holiday is available everywhere right now!

LISTEN TO CLIPS &
BUY THE ALUBM

Trolls Holiday, the showwill premiere Friday, November 24th, on NBC.

Delilah | Now on American Forces Network RADIO!

Delilah | Now on American Forces Network RADIO!

It's official! Just in time for the holidays...

As of Monday, November 28, 2016 American Forces Network is now carrying the Delilah show. Monday through Friday from 7:00pm until Midnight Central Europe Time and Japan/Korea time.