Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Monday, April 5, 2010
Our "Staycation"
This spring break we went on our first "staycation". After not being able to decide where we wanted to go or what we wanted to do we decided to take the economical route and just stay home. In the past we have spent our spring breaks by staying in Bed and Breakfast Inns (pre-children), at hotels on the beach and by camping so I was a little worried this spring break was going to leave us feeling disappointed or at the very least, bored. I couldn't have been more wrong.
Knowing I wanted the week to be special and not spent inside wasting away the days by watching television, I made a list of things I thought would be fun to do as a family. Eric took the entire week off and Monday began our official first staycation. Here is the daily journal and pictures of our week:
Monday
Bowling: It's such an easy and affordable outing for a family but something often overlooked. The bowling balls were almost as big as the kids and the waiting of those balls to creep down the lanes was brutal but the kids had a blast. A few calls to the front desk for ball retrieval and repair of the automatic ball sweeping arm (someone, not me and not one of our children, hit the "reset" button and got it hung up on a bowling ball stuck in the gutter) and a couple falls later, we completed our first family game of bowling.
Later that night we went to the beach to soak in a hot tub and gaze at the stars. It was freezing and very windy but the kids loved the fact they were up way past their bedtimes and it was quality time with family.
Tuesday
Zoo: Ok so everyone takes their kids to the zoo and there's a reason why-it's fun! And educational. We packed a picnic and took the kids to Lowry Park Zoo. From feeding lorakeets to feeding giraffes we saw every animal and fed ourselves candied apples and giant cookies too. We took a ride on the skysafari which was a bit intimidating dangling over huge alligators and other man eating animals but an otherwise relaxing way to spend a little down time with the kids.
Drive-In Theater: Who (under the age of 50) has been to a drive-in theater? We have! Tuesday evening after dinner we surprised the kids with a trip to a local drive-in theater to see the movie, "How To Train Your Dragon". We met friends there and though the kids may have been more busy gorging themselves on popcorn and candy then jumping around in the back of the car, it was still a really neat experience. We saw the moon rise over the screen and the most amazing falling star ever.
Wednesday
Children's Choice Meal: This one I was really excited about! On Tuesday night I had the kids draw a meal (breakfast, lunch or dinner) out of a hat and then tell me what they would like to eat for that meal. I told them they could choose ANYthing they wanted and I would make it. At first Eric was a little concerned about guidelines and conditions but I explained it was only one day and that I could sneak healthy snacks in between the "meals." Here are their choices:
Easton had breakfast and being very original chose...waffles. I helped him out a bit by offering sliced strawberries, sliced bananas, chocolate syrup, strawberry syrup, maple syrup, whipped cream and chocolate shavings as topping options.
Fisher, being a little more creative, chose banana splits for lunch. Vanilla, strawberry and chocolate ice cream with bananas (of course), hot fudge, caramel sauce, strawberries, chopped pineapple, sprinkles, whipped cream, chocolate shavings and cherries were on the menu.
And finally, for dinner, Finley chose cupcakes with pink, green and blue frosting. I let the children frost their own cupcakes then top them with jellybeans and sprinkles. Overall it was a lot of fun and not one time did I hear, "this is yucky."
Also on Wednesday the boys went on a successful fishing trip and caught several sheepshead and even a few grouper!
And Finley and I were able to do a little shopping and spent some quality mommy-daughter time.
Thursday
Beach: It would be a total lack of spring break respect if we did not make at least one trip to the beach so off we went. Again we packed a picnic and met friends and enjoyed the beautiful weather on one of our favorite beaches.
Pier 60: Every day at sunset the pier comes alive with street performers and tourists. We decided to 'tourist it' for the evening and grabbed dinner to go then went to the pier to eat dinner, watch the sunset and see the street performers. From fire juggling to fire breathing we were definitely entertained.
Farmer's Market: I've always loved going to farmer's markets and was really excited to be able to go as a family. We purchased fresh fruits and vegetables, listened to live folk music and checked out the many vendors. After an apple snack we left for hiking at Brooker Creek Preserve.
Brooker Creek Preserve: A nature park in our backyard, we were really impressed with the facilities and loved the shaded boardwalk. We watched an educational movie on how to take care of our natural resources then went on a leisurely hike through the forest and saw two armadillos ("badilwoes" as Finley calls them), several turtles, an alligator and a couple of wild turkeys. It was a perfect day for a hike and the kids had fun exploring.
Saturday/Sunday
We went to the beach again on Saturday and spent the day with family then that afternoon we hosted a neighborhood block party. And Sunday morning, after discovering our Easter treats, we went to church and rejoiced in the resurrection of our Saviour then had a wonderful lunch with family. It was a wonderful week and one that will definitely make us consider another staycation in the future. Fisher said it best when he said, "This was the best spring break ever!"
The girl does not like her picture taken.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Food For Thought Fridays
Ok, so I was inspired by my friend who does a "Two Tips Tuesdays" on her blog Twoshadesofpink.blogspot.com and decided to start "Food For Thought Fridays". Little things I have learned and found to be helpful in the kitchen or while entertaining. So here goes...
Setting A Table.
It doesn't seem like that big of a deal but simply setting a table the "right" way can make all the difference when having company over. Your guests may not notice their water glasses are in the correct position or that their salad forks are strategically placed but you will have the satisfaction of knowing you have set a table Martha Stewart would be proud of.
1.) Iron napkins (hahahahahaha!) in flat squares then fold them and place them in the middle of the plate or to the left under the forks. Fortunately the napkins I use come folded in a convenient little plastic wrapper and require no ironing. Of course I could attempt to iron them but prefer to start fires on the stove top and not by pressing paper, disposable napkins.
2.) The forks go to the left of the plate and the knives and spoons go to the right. The utensils that are used first go to the outside (farthest from the plate). For example, the appetizer fork goes first, the main course fork goes to its right and the dessert fork goes closest to the plate. The same is true for the knives and the spoons are to the right of the knives. If you have a lot of utensils, the dessert spoon and fork can go at the top of the plate. But who are we kidding here, most of us are lucky to have matching forks and knives let alone multiple sizes of each. Just make sure the forks go to the left and the knives go to the right. Even if they are multi-colored plastic utensils left over from the multitude of children's birthday parties you have hosted.
3.) Glasses are placed at the top of the knife; the wineglass (no, not red Solo cups) also recognized as the "sweet tea glass" goes to the right of the water glass. Finally, place cards, if you're using them, go on the plate or on the table at the top of the plate. Of course your finger pointing serves as a sufficient place card or if you are like my family, we prefer to write our name on a red Solo cup then claim our place at the table by putting our cup where we choose to sit. Anyway, hope this clarifies any confusion and happy entertaining!
Setting A Table.
It doesn't seem like that big of a deal but simply setting a table the "right" way can make all the difference when having company over. Your guests may not notice their water glasses are in the correct position or that their salad forks are strategically placed but you will have the satisfaction of knowing you have set a table Martha Stewart would be proud of.
1.) Iron napkins (hahahahahaha!) in flat squares then fold them and place them in the middle of the plate or to the left under the forks. Fortunately the napkins I use come folded in a convenient little plastic wrapper and require no ironing. Of course I could attempt to iron them but prefer to start fires on the stove top and not by pressing paper, disposable napkins.
2.) The forks go to the left of the plate and the knives and spoons go to the right. The utensils that are used first go to the outside (farthest from the plate). For example, the appetizer fork goes first, the main course fork goes to its right and the dessert fork goes closest to the plate. The same is true for the knives and the spoons are to the right of the knives. If you have a lot of utensils, the dessert spoon and fork can go at the top of the plate. But who are we kidding here, most of us are lucky to have matching forks and knives let alone multiple sizes of each. Just make sure the forks go to the left and the knives go to the right. Even if they are multi-colored plastic utensils left over from the multitude of children's birthday parties you have hosted.
3.) Glasses are placed at the top of the knife; the wineglass (no, not red Solo cups) also recognized as the "sweet tea glass" goes to the right of the water glass. Finally, place cards, if you're using them, go on the plate or on the table at the top of the plate. Of course your finger pointing serves as a sufficient place card or if you are like my family, we prefer to write our name on a red Solo cup then claim our place at the table by putting our cup where we choose to sit. Anyway, hope this clarifies any confusion and happy entertaining!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Strongholds
Growing up in a Baptist church I earned several trophies for memorizing Bible verses. I would rattle off the "verse of the week" to my Sunday school teacher and by the time the little gold star had been applied to my chart I had already forgotten what I just recited. Except for one verse. I think I was in 3rd grade when I memorized Nahum 1:7. Nahum? Who in the heck was Nahum? I'm not sure why but that verse stuck with me. The King James Version of the verse is: "The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him."
It wasn't like I had a rough childhood, quite the opposite actually, or that I had any "troubles" at all but for whatever reason the verse was appealing to me and I simply liked it. I liked it so much that I made it my life verse (another Baptist tradition in which you choose and claim a verse in the Bible to apply to your life). And as all my friends were quoting Proverbs 3:5-6 or Philippians 4:13 (both great verses by the way) as their life verses I stood proudly claiming the Lord was my stronghold for all my days of trouble even though I had yet to experience them.
Then roughly 25 years later, I open my Bible study book, on breaking free of strongholds, to the last day of the last week and read, "Remember, we never find freedom from bondage in independence. We find it by taking the same handcuffs that once bound us to sin and binding ourselves to the wrist of Christ. When you're imprisoned in the will of God, your cell becomes the Holy of Holies. Never forget, there is only one Stronghold that frees when it binds." (Beth Moore, Breaking Free).
Stronghold...Stronghold...Stronghold. The Lord is a stronghold. It all clicked. What if 25 years ago, as a clueless 8-year-old, God impressed upon my heart Nahum 1:7 because He knew one day I would conquer my strongholds and would allow Him to become The Stronghold in my life?
What if He simply allowed the verse to stick so long ago so He could use it as a personal "I love you"? How incredible that God would set into motion something so small that would later become so profound to me.
I can tell you it has been a brutal battle breaking free of my strongholds. So many of them are literally in my head and I had no idea what a battlefield my mind could be. Pride, envy, anger, dissatisfaction and selfishness are just a few of the strongholds that I have battled. But I am learning to take captive the thoughts in my mind and focus them on God and the blessings He has graciously given me. The thoughts still come but I am catching them sooner than I ever did before. There are still times when I think I am doing a better job parenting than someone else but quickly remind myself I have a husband who is very helpful in raising our children. Other times I have noticed someone's blog with hundreds of followers but before I dwell on the numbers I stop and thank the Lord the writer is blogging for Him. I have a long way to go but it's these little victories that are leading me closer to freedom and to my Stronghold.
For dinner without the battle serve meatloaf, garlic mashed potatoes and green beans for dinner tonight.
Meatloaf
1 1/2 lb lean ground beef
1 small onion finely chopped
1/2 green pepper, chopped
2 tbsp ketchup
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp maple syrup
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 egg
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients well and then shape into a loaf and place on a lightly greased baking dish and bake 45 minutes or until cooked through.
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
3 large baking potatoes, peeled and chopped
4 cloves garlic, crushed
about a cup of Milk, warmed
1/2 stick of unsalted butter (who am I kidding, more like two sticks...)
Salt and pepper to taste
Boil potatoes AND garlic cloves until tender. Drain then mash potatoes while adding enough milk and butter to make creamy consistency. Season with salt and pepper.
Steamed Green Beans
1 lb of fresh green beans, washed and trimmed
2 tbsp butter
salt and pepper to taste
Steam green beans 5 to 8 minutes or until tender but still bright green. Drain then in a large skillet melt butter and saute green beans 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
It wasn't like I had a rough childhood, quite the opposite actually, or that I had any "troubles" at all but for whatever reason the verse was appealing to me and I simply liked it. I liked it so much that I made it my life verse (another Baptist tradition in which you choose and claim a verse in the Bible to apply to your life). And as all my friends were quoting Proverbs 3:5-6 or Philippians 4:13 (both great verses by the way) as their life verses I stood proudly claiming the Lord was my stronghold for all my days of trouble even though I had yet to experience them.
Then roughly 25 years later, I open my Bible study book, on breaking free of strongholds, to the last day of the last week and read, "Remember, we never find freedom from bondage in independence. We find it by taking the same handcuffs that once bound us to sin and binding ourselves to the wrist of Christ. When you're imprisoned in the will of God, your cell becomes the Holy of Holies. Never forget, there is only one Stronghold that frees when it binds." (Beth Moore, Breaking Free).
Stronghold...Stronghold...Stronghold. The Lord is a stronghold. It all clicked. What if 25 years ago, as a clueless 8-year-old, God impressed upon my heart Nahum 1:7 because He knew one day I would conquer my strongholds and would allow Him to become The Stronghold in my life?
What if He simply allowed the verse to stick so long ago so He could use it as a personal "I love you"? How incredible that God would set into motion something so small that would later become so profound to me.
I can tell you it has been a brutal battle breaking free of my strongholds. So many of them are literally in my head and I had no idea what a battlefield my mind could be. Pride, envy, anger, dissatisfaction and selfishness are just a few of the strongholds that I have battled. But I am learning to take captive the thoughts in my mind and focus them on God and the blessings He has graciously given me. The thoughts still come but I am catching them sooner than I ever did before. There are still times when I think I am doing a better job parenting than someone else but quickly remind myself I have a husband who is very helpful in raising our children. Other times I have noticed someone's blog with hundreds of followers but before I dwell on the numbers I stop and thank the Lord the writer is blogging for Him. I have a long way to go but it's these little victories that are leading me closer to freedom and to my Stronghold.
For dinner without the battle serve meatloaf, garlic mashed potatoes and green beans for dinner tonight.
Meatloaf
1 1/2 lb lean ground beef
1 small onion finely chopped
1/2 green pepper, chopped
2 tbsp ketchup
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp maple syrup
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 egg
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients well and then shape into a loaf and place on a lightly greased baking dish and bake 45 minutes or until cooked through.
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
3 large baking potatoes, peeled and chopped
4 cloves garlic, crushed
about a cup of Milk, warmed
1/2 stick of unsalted butter (who am I kidding, more like two sticks...)
Salt and pepper to taste
Boil potatoes AND garlic cloves until tender. Drain then mash potatoes while adding enough milk and butter to make creamy consistency. Season with salt and pepper.
Steamed Green Beans
1 lb of fresh green beans, washed and trimmed
2 tbsp butter
salt and pepper to taste
Steam green beans 5 to 8 minutes or until tender but still bright green. Drain then in a large skillet melt butter and saute green beans 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
St. Patrick's Day
I'm not Irish but I love celebrating St. Patrick's Day. In the past I have messed up the kids' bedrooms and blamed it on those darn leprechauns. I have dyed gallons of milk green, made green pancakes and have even picked the green "Nerds" out of a box of the tropical punch flavored candy so my kids would think they were finding leprechaun droppings. And I always make a some-what traditional Irish dinner. Why bother? Because it's fun and it's an opportunity to teach my children a little history about a man who chose to serve God even when it wasn't easy to do so.
You may or may not know that Patrick was born in Britain but kidnapped as a teenager and taken to Ireland as a slave. He prayed for freedom and once he escaped he thanked the Lord and vowed to return to Ireland to tell the Irish about God. Some people believe he used the Shamrock as a symbol of the Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. Whatever method he used it worked because he did return to Ireland and saw many people become believers. And here we are, over a thousand years later, still talking about him and the life he led. Of course we have added our twists on the holiday (green beer, parades, pots of gold) but it's still a fun and easy way to share the "good news" with those around us. So, in light of the festivities I thought I would post the recipes I am making for our "Irish" dinner tonight: Irish soda bread, roasted potato and leek soup and sausage with cabbage. Enjoy.
Irish Soda Bread
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
4 tbsp unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
2 tbsp caraway seeds (optional)
1 cup raisins or currants
1 cup buttermilk
1 egg
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Add butter and blend until butter is the size of small peas. Stir in raisins. Whisk buttermilk and egg together then pour into flour mixture. Mix well until dough comes together. Turn dough onto floured surface and knead several times while shaping it into a round loaf. Place on a parchment or foil lined baking sheet. Cut a cross on top then bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes then reduce heat to 350 degrees and continue to cook an additional 15 to 20 minutes. Serve with lots of butter and jam (orange marmalade is really good too).
Roasted Potato and Leek Soup
2 lbs Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch chunks
4 cups chopped leeks, white and light green parts, cleaned of all sand (4 leeks)
1/4 cup olive oil
coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
3 cups baby arugula/ lightly packed
1/2 cup dry white wine, plus extra for serving
6 to 7 cups chicken stock
3/4 cup heavy cream
8 oz creme fraiche
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra shredded for garnish
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine potatoes and leeks on a sheet pan in a single layer. Add oil, 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper and toss to coat. Roast for 40-45 minutes turning occasionally, until very tender. Add arugula and toss to combine. Roast for 4 to 5 more minutes until the arugula is wilted. Remove from the oven and place vegetables and any juices into a large pot over low heat. Add wine and 1 cup of the chicken stock and cook over low heat. In batches, transfer the roasted vegetables and liquid to a food processor and puree. Place back in pot and add the remaining chicken stock. Add the cream, creme fraiche, 2 tsp salt and 1 tsp pepper. Just before serving whisk in 2 tbsp white wine and the Parmesan cheese. Serve hot with shredded Parmesan cheese and crispy bacon pieces (if desired) on top.
Smoked Sausage and Cabbage
1 lb smoked sausage, sliced into 1/2-inch pieces
1 medium head of green cabbage, washed and chopped
1/2 lb bacon
2 cloves garlic, minced
salt and pepper
In large skillet, cook bacon then remove to a paper towel lined plate. Reserve 2 tbsp of bacon drippings then brown sausage in same skillet. Add garlic then bacon drippings. Add cabbage and saute until tender but still crisp. Season with salt and pepper and serve hot.
You may or may not know that Patrick was born in Britain but kidnapped as a teenager and taken to Ireland as a slave. He prayed for freedom and once he escaped he thanked the Lord and vowed to return to Ireland to tell the Irish about God. Some people believe he used the Shamrock as a symbol of the Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. Whatever method he used it worked because he did return to Ireland and saw many people become believers. And here we are, over a thousand years later, still talking about him and the life he led. Of course we have added our twists on the holiday (green beer, parades, pots of gold) but it's still a fun and easy way to share the "good news" with those around us. So, in light of the festivities I thought I would post the recipes I am making for our "Irish" dinner tonight: Irish soda bread, roasted potato and leek soup and sausage with cabbage. Enjoy.
Irish Soda Bread
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
4 tbsp unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
2 tbsp caraway seeds (optional)
1 cup raisins or currants
1 cup buttermilk
1 egg
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Add butter and blend until butter is the size of small peas. Stir in raisins. Whisk buttermilk and egg together then pour into flour mixture. Mix well until dough comes together. Turn dough onto floured surface and knead several times while shaping it into a round loaf. Place on a parchment or foil lined baking sheet. Cut a cross on top then bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes then reduce heat to 350 degrees and continue to cook an additional 15 to 20 minutes. Serve with lots of butter and jam (orange marmalade is really good too).
Roasted Potato and Leek Soup
2 lbs Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch chunks
4 cups chopped leeks, white and light green parts, cleaned of all sand (4 leeks)
1/4 cup olive oil
coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
3 cups baby arugula/ lightly packed
1/2 cup dry white wine, plus extra for serving
6 to 7 cups chicken stock
3/4 cup heavy cream
8 oz creme fraiche
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra shredded for garnish
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine potatoes and leeks on a sheet pan in a single layer. Add oil, 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper and toss to coat. Roast for 40-45 minutes turning occasionally, until very tender. Add arugula and toss to combine. Roast for 4 to 5 more minutes until the arugula is wilted. Remove from the oven and place vegetables and any juices into a large pot over low heat. Add wine and 1 cup of the chicken stock and cook over low heat. In batches, transfer the roasted vegetables and liquid to a food processor and puree. Place back in pot and add the remaining chicken stock. Add the cream, creme fraiche, 2 tsp salt and 1 tsp pepper. Just before serving whisk in 2 tbsp white wine and the Parmesan cheese. Serve hot with shredded Parmesan cheese and crispy bacon pieces (if desired) on top.
Smoked Sausage and Cabbage
1 lb smoked sausage, sliced into 1/2-inch pieces
1 medium head of green cabbage, washed and chopped
1/2 lb bacon
2 cloves garlic, minced
salt and pepper
In large skillet, cook bacon then remove to a paper towel lined plate. Reserve 2 tbsp of bacon drippings then brown sausage in same skillet. Add garlic then bacon drippings. Add cabbage and saute until tender but still crisp. Season with salt and pepper and serve hot.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
March Dinner Party
When we first got married I thought heating up frozen pasta meals was "cooking." Occasionally I would whip up the classic spaghetti casserole for a "real" home cooked meal but otherwise I was clueless to the broad and wonderful aspects of the culinary world. It wasn't that I didn't enjoy cooking, my favorite gift of all time was my Easy Bake Oven, I just never took the time to research recipes or experiment with food. Then when I was six months pregnant with my first child, I was put on bed rest and stumbled upon the food network.
I had pretty much seen every episode of "A Baby Story" on TLC and was getting restless when I came across Rachel Ray and her 30 Minute Meals. She was very entertaining and made "real" cooking look easy. I started taking mental notes and once off bed rest the experimenting began. Since then I have made many "Honeymoon Meals" (meals that turn out terrible but my husband still eats them because he loves me) and many "Entertaining Meals" (meals that I would feel comfortable sharing with guests). These Entertaining Meals are what prompted me to start hosting cooking demos in my home and tonight was the first one.
Five ladies joined me for spinach and strawberry salad, macadamia crusted chicken with pineapple-mango Relish, roasted sweet potatoes, sauteed asparagus and pineapple sundaes for dessert and we had so much fun! It was amazing how simply gathering around a table, talking about food and life in general, was so therapeutic. We didn't know each other all that well, we were all different and had different struggles but we were able to relate and laugh as if we had known each other for years. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and hope the girls not only walked away with a few new recipes but a sense of sisterhood knowing that we have much more in common than we thought.
So, here are the promised recipes from tonight. Enjoy and hope to see you at the next dinner party.
Strawberry and Spinach Salad
1 bag of fresh spinach
2 cups sliced strawberries
1 cup pecans
1/2 onion thinly sliced
1/2 tbsp butter
1 tsp sugar
1/4 cup feta cheese
Berry Vinaigrette Dressing (I like Marzettis)
Toast pecans in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside. In same skillet melt butter then add onions. Sprinkle onions with sugar and cook until light brown. Remove from heat and place in bowl with remaining ingredients. Toss with dressing then add pecans and serve.
Macadamia Crusted Chicken with Pineapple-Mango Relish (posted before)
1/2 cup soy sauce
1 1/2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp mirin (found on ethnic isle)
1 tsp fresh ginger, minced
1 clove garlic, minced
5 tbsp olive oil, divided
6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 cup macadamia nuts, finely chopped
3/4 cup panko
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 tbsp butter
Whisk together first 5 ingredients and 1 tbsp oil in a bowl. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper then place in a zip-top plastic bag and pour marinade over top. Seal bag and turning to coat and chill 1 hour turning occasionally. Combine nuts and panko in shallow dish, place flour in a separate shallow dish and eggs in another shallow dish. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Remove chicken from marinade dredge in flour then eggs then in breadcrumb mixture. Heat 4 tbsp oil and 2 tbsp butter in large skillet over medium heat until butter melts. Add chicken and cook until light brown on both sides then remove and place on lightly greased cookie sheet and bake 15-20 minutes or until done. Serve with relish.
Pineapple-Mango Relish
1 cup pineapple, diced
1 cup mango, diced
1/3 cup sugar
Place all ingredients in saucepan and bring to a boil stirring constantly. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered 20 minutes stirring occasionally. Makes 1 cup.
Roasted Sweet Potato Fries
4 med sweet potatoes, peeled
4 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Halve sweet potatoes lengthwise then cut each half into 3 long spears. Place on cookies sheet, drizzle with oil the sprinkle with sugar, salt and pepper. Spread in one layer and bake 15 minutes then turn and bake an additional 10 minutes.
Sauteed Asparagus
2 lbs fresh asparagus
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
salt and pepper
Rinse asparagus and cut off bottom stems then place in large skillet. Cover with water and simmer for 5 minutes or until bright green. Drain and set aside. In same skillet add oil and butter then saute garlic. Add asparagus, salt and pepper the toss.
Pineapple Sundaes with Caramel Sauce
1 fresh pineapple, peeled, cored and cut into wedges
2 cups shredded and sweetened coconut
Vanilla ice cream
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread coconut in a single layer on a cookie sheet and toast 5-10 minutes or until light brown. Preheat grill over high heat and grill pineapple for 3 minutes on each side. Scoop vanilla ice cream then roll in toasted coconut then plate with grilled pineapple wedges. Drizzle with caramel sauce and serve.
Caramel Sauce
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/3 cup water
1 1/4 cups heavy cream
1/2 tsp vanilla
Mix water and sugar in a medium saucepan. Cook over low heat until sugar is dissolved. Do not stir. Increase heat to medium and boil uncovered until sugar turns a golden brown color. Remove from heat and add cream and vanilla. Stir occasionally until smooth. Set aside and allow to cool to room temperature.
I had pretty much seen every episode of "A Baby Story" on TLC and was getting restless when I came across Rachel Ray and her 30 Minute Meals. She was very entertaining and made "real" cooking look easy. I started taking mental notes and once off bed rest the experimenting began. Since then I have made many "Honeymoon Meals" (meals that turn out terrible but my husband still eats them because he loves me) and many "Entertaining Meals" (meals that I would feel comfortable sharing with guests). These Entertaining Meals are what prompted me to start hosting cooking demos in my home and tonight was the first one.
Five ladies joined me for spinach and strawberry salad, macadamia crusted chicken with pineapple-mango Relish, roasted sweet potatoes, sauteed asparagus and pineapple sundaes for dessert and we had so much fun! It was amazing how simply gathering around a table, talking about food and life in general, was so therapeutic. We didn't know each other all that well, we were all different and had different struggles but we were able to relate and laugh as if we had known each other for years. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and hope the girls not only walked away with a few new recipes but a sense of sisterhood knowing that we have much more in common than we thought.
So, here are the promised recipes from tonight. Enjoy and hope to see you at the next dinner party.
Strawberry and Spinach Salad
1 bag of fresh spinach
2 cups sliced strawberries
1 cup pecans
1/2 onion thinly sliced
1/2 tbsp butter
1 tsp sugar
1/4 cup feta cheese
Berry Vinaigrette Dressing (I like Marzettis)
Toast pecans in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside. In same skillet melt butter then add onions. Sprinkle onions with sugar and cook until light brown. Remove from heat and place in bowl with remaining ingredients. Toss with dressing then add pecans and serve.
Macadamia Crusted Chicken with Pineapple-Mango Relish (posted before)
1/2 cup soy sauce
1 1/2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp mirin (found on ethnic isle)
1 tsp fresh ginger, minced
1 clove garlic, minced
5 tbsp olive oil, divided
6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 cup macadamia nuts, finely chopped
3/4 cup panko
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 tbsp butter
Whisk together first 5 ingredients and 1 tbsp oil in a bowl. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper then place in a zip-top plastic bag and pour marinade over top. Seal bag and turning to coat and chill 1 hour turning occasionally. Combine nuts and panko in shallow dish, place flour in a separate shallow dish and eggs in another shallow dish. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Remove chicken from marinade dredge in flour then eggs then in breadcrumb mixture. Heat 4 tbsp oil and 2 tbsp butter in large skillet over medium heat until butter melts. Add chicken and cook until light brown on both sides then remove and place on lightly greased cookie sheet and bake 15-20 minutes or until done. Serve with relish.
Pineapple-Mango Relish
1 cup pineapple, diced
1 cup mango, diced
1/3 cup sugar
Place all ingredients in saucepan and bring to a boil stirring constantly. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered 20 minutes stirring occasionally. Makes 1 cup.
Roasted Sweet Potato Fries
4 med sweet potatoes, peeled
4 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Halve sweet potatoes lengthwise then cut each half into 3 long spears. Place on cookies sheet, drizzle with oil the sprinkle with sugar, salt and pepper. Spread in one layer and bake 15 minutes then turn and bake an additional 10 minutes.
Sauteed Asparagus
2 lbs fresh asparagus
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
salt and pepper
Rinse asparagus and cut off bottom stems then place in large skillet. Cover with water and simmer for 5 minutes or until bright green. Drain and set aside. In same skillet add oil and butter then saute garlic. Add asparagus, salt and pepper the toss.
Pineapple Sundaes with Caramel Sauce
1 fresh pineapple, peeled, cored and cut into wedges
2 cups shredded and sweetened coconut
Vanilla ice cream
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread coconut in a single layer on a cookie sheet and toast 5-10 minutes or until light brown. Preheat grill over high heat and grill pineapple for 3 minutes on each side. Scoop vanilla ice cream then roll in toasted coconut then plate with grilled pineapple wedges. Drizzle with caramel sauce and serve.
Caramel Sauce
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/3 cup water
1 1/4 cups heavy cream
1/2 tsp vanilla
Mix water and sugar in a medium saucepan. Cook over low heat until sugar is dissolved. Do not stir. Increase heat to medium and boil uncovered until sugar turns a golden brown color. Remove from heat and add cream and vanilla. Stir occasionally until smooth. Set aside and allow to cool to room temperature.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Under Attack
There was someone in my room this morning watching me sleep and wringing his hands in anticipation of me waking up. He, the enemy, was perched upon my nightstand leaning over me and cackling over the plans he had in store for my day. When my alarm went off he jumped in excited fury that our day was beginning. I rolled out of bed and felt him throw a heavy yoke on my shoulders. No sooner had the yoke been fastened that he picked up his bow and shot a flaming arrow at my back. He cursed as he missed and then quickly followed me downstairs. He ran around me to take another shot. He made contact this time and struck my hand to distract me from where I was headed. It worked.
I walked to the counter and grabbed my phone to check messages and emails. Something I normally do not allow until after my quiet time with the Lord. But my hands were tingling this morning. I wanted to pick up my phone and just check...The tingling wore off and I was back on track. I sat down to begin my Bible study but didn't realize I had been struck again, this time it was near my foot. Just a little irritation to keep me from completely focusing on what I was reading. I ignored the feeling and read on. He slithered into a corner to regroup and plan his next attack. I finished my study and said a quick prayer and heard him growl. He was getting angry. As I began my daily activities he came out of the corner raging. He added more weight to my yoke then raised his bow and struck me in the leg. It hurt. I began feeling a little more than irritated. I was frustrated at the annoying pain and felt the burden I carried weighing me down. I limped upstairs and was struck again, this time in the center of my back and I fell to the ground. I reached for the handrail and pulled myself up. I now had four flaming arrows in me and was feeling the pain but had no idea what he had in store.
I went to wake my children to get them ready for the day and was struck three more times. Once in the head, once in the heart and once in the gut. I lost control. I yelled, I screamed, I threw things. All the while he stood in a corner watching and laughing hysterically. He was enjoying every second of the kill. I gathered the energy needed to get the boys off to school but as I was driving home, barely able to focus because of the weight and pain, I began to hear him whisper in my ear. "You're pathetic. You're a horrible person. You will never change. You are going to always feel this way. You have no hope. Just suck it up and bear it, your life will never be good." I began to cry. I knew he was lying but I couldn't help but wonder if there was some truth in what he was saying. I was horrible this morning. I was feeling hopeless. I was wondering if I was ever going to be able to break away from my chains.
When I got home I walked through the door and caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. There I was broken and bleeding covered in arrows. I fell to the ground and realized I needed to seek shelter. This attack I was facing was not an attack of flesh and blood but a spiritual attack in full force. I dragged myself into the lap of my Lord and asked for his help. One by one he removed the arrows and bandaged my wounds. He took my face in His hands and told me I was worth dying for and that he loved me. Then He took off my yoke and replaced it with his. He told me His burden was light and that He would give me rest. He told me to learn from His gentle and humble heart and that He would satisfy all my longings and fill all my hollow places with His lavish, unfailing love.
I looked around but could not find the enemy anywhere. He had retreated in defeat. And though I still feel the pain of his attack this morning I am determined to make a complete recovery for I know the plans God has for me. They are plans to prosper me and not to harm me. Plans to give me hope and a future.
This morning Satan was really "whooping" up on me. I have been participating in Beth Moore's Breaking Free Bible study and am not surprised at all that Satan, the enemy, would stop at nothing to keep me from completing the study and learning everything God would have me to learn. I have been breaking strongholds I didn't know I had and am in the process of breaking through some pretty tough ones. I will take this morning as a sign that I am getting ready to bust through and PRAISE THE LORD that though the enemy is trying his hardest, he is still being defeated! I have struggled with a particular stronghold for a few years now that has changed who I am as a wife, mother and woman. It has led me to make wrong choices, seek fulfillment outside of God's will and give in multiple times to feelings of anger and despair. But today I am claiming Jeremiah 29:11-14a and know freedom is just around the corner.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the Lord, "and will bring you back from captivity."
And because prison food is not appealing here's an easy recipe for homemade Chicken Pot Pie.
Chicken Pot Pie
3 cups cooked chicken, diced
1 10oz pkg. frozen mixed vegetables
1 can cream of celery soup
1 cup chicken broth
1/4 tsp pepper
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup milk
1 stick of butter, melted
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spread chicken and vegetables in the bottom of a shallow 2-quart dish. Stir soup, broth and pepper together and pour over chicken and vegetables. In medium bowl combine flour, baking powder, salt, milk and butter then pour on top of chicken mixture. Bake 40-45 minutes or until top is golden brown. Cool for 10 minutes then serve with a salad and sweet tea!
I walked to the counter and grabbed my phone to check messages and emails. Something I normally do not allow until after my quiet time with the Lord. But my hands were tingling this morning. I wanted to pick up my phone and just check...The tingling wore off and I was back on track. I sat down to begin my Bible study but didn't realize I had been struck again, this time it was near my foot. Just a little irritation to keep me from completely focusing on what I was reading. I ignored the feeling and read on. He slithered into a corner to regroup and plan his next attack. I finished my study and said a quick prayer and heard him growl. He was getting angry. As I began my daily activities he came out of the corner raging. He added more weight to my yoke then raised his bow and struck me in the leg. It hurt. I began feeling a little more than irritated. I was frustrated at the annoying pain and felt the burden I carried weighing me down. I limped upstairs and was struck again, this time in the center of my back and I fell to the ground. I reached for the handrail and pulled myself up. I now had four flaming arrows in me and was feeling the pain but had no idea what he had in store.
I went to wake my children to get them ready for the day and was struck three more times. Once in the head, once in the heart and once in the gut. I lost control. I yelled, I screamed, I threw things. All the while he stood in a corner watching and laughing hysterically. He was enjoying every second of the kill. I gathered the energy needed to get the boys off to school but as I was driving home, barely able to focus because of the weight and pain, I began to hear him whisper in my ear. "You're pathetic. You're a horrible person. You will never change. You are going to always feel this way. You have no hope. Just suck it up and bear it, your life will never be good." I began to cry. I knew he was lying but I couldn't help but wonder if there was some truth in what he was saying. I was horrible this morning. I was feeling hopeless. I was wondering if I was ever going to be able to break away from my chains.
When I got home I walked through the door and caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. There I was broken and bleeding covered in arrows. I fell to the ground and realized I needed to seek shelter. This attack I was facing was not an attack of flesh and blood but a spiritual attack in full force. I dragged myself into the lap of my Lord and asked for his help. One by one he removed the arrows and bandaged my wounds. He took my face in His hands and told me I was worth dying for and that he loved me. Then He took off my yoke and replaced it with his. He told me His burden was light and that He would give me rest. He told me to learn from His gentle and humble heart and that He would satisfy all my longings and fill all my hollow places with His lavish, unfailing love.
I looked around but could not find the enemy anywhere. He had retreated in defeat. And though I still feel the pain of his attack this morning I am determined to make a complete recovery for I know the plans God has for me. They are plans to prosper me and not to harm me. Plans to give me hope and a future.
This morning Satan was really "whooping" up on me. I have been participating in Beth Moore's Breaking Free Bible study and am not surprised at all that Satan, the enemy, would stop at nothing to keep me from completing the study and learning everything God would have me to learn. I have been breaking strongholds I didn't know I had and am in the process of breaking through some pretty tough ones. I will take this morning as a sign that I am getting ready to bust through and PRAISE THE LORD that though the enemy is trying his hardest, he is still being defeated! I have struggled with a particular stronghold for a few years now that has changed who I am as a wife, mother and woman. It has led me to make wrong choices, seek fulfillment outside of God's will and give in multiple times to feelings of anger and despair. But today I am claiming Jeremiah 29:11-14a and know freedom is just around the corner.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the Lord, "and will bring you back from captivity."
And because prison food is not appealing here's an easy recipe for homemade Chicken Pot Pie.
Chicken Pot Pie
3 cups cooked chicken, diced
1 10oz pkg. frozen mixed vegetables
1 can cream of celery soup
1 cup chicken broth
1/4 tsp pepper
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup milk
1 stick of butter, melted
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spread chicken and vegetables in the bottom of a shallow 2-quart dish. Stir soup, broth and pepper together and pour over chicken and vegetables. In medium bowl combine flour, baking powder, salt, milk and butter then pour on top of chicken mixture. Bake 40-45 minutes or until top is golden brown. Cool for 10 minutes then serve with a salad and sweet tea!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
2:15:56
For those of you who have given birth, minus the epidural, you probably at some point during active labor thought, "I will NEVER do this again." Then a little while later (like 24 hours later) when the Percocet has completely kicked in and you gaze into the cloudy eyes of your precious newborn you think, "ok, maybe I'll do this again." Then a couple of weeks later you have miraculously forgotten all pain and suffering and find yourself planning your next pregnancy.
This is exactly how I felt about completing my first half marathon. The first five miles were a piece of cake, fun even. Then I crossed a bridge and my iPod was zapped. Not sure what happened but the thing would not even turn on. The next three miles were still pretty easy but quite boring. Then came mile 9...sure I saw my husband and adorable children cheering me on but the realization that I still had 4.1 miles to go sunk in. By mile 11 I thought I was dying and was sure someone had played a cruel trick on me and decided to bump the finish line back an additional five miles. But there it was in the distance...red and white balloons and the crowd gathering. I thought to myself, "I think I can do this through Christ, I think I can do this through Christ, I CAN do this through Christ, I 'm doing this through Christ, I'm doing this through Christ" and before I knew it I was crossing the finish line alongside my sweet friend, Stacey.
Whew. It was over. I did it. And I will never do it again! I hobbled around in search of bottled water and nearly kissed a young gangsta-looking boy smack on the mouth when he held a bottle of water out to me. I was hurting. My knee was throbbing, my lungs burning and my stomach churning but by golly I just ran 13.1 miles nonstop and through it all I was feeling pretty darn good about it. Later we went to breakfast to celebrate the accomplishment and I have never enjoyed a Belgian waffle like I did that one. Knowing not a single calorie was sticking around I loaded it up with butter, syrup, blueberries and confectioners sugar.
The real pain set in once I got home though. I was sore everywhere and had a hard time walking, standing and even sitting. I took a hot shower then popped pills like candy. Funny thing happened though when I woke the next morning. I wasn't as sore anymore and even thought, "well, that was kind of fun." And here I am today, three days later, wondering when my next 1/2 marathon is going to be. I can't wait! I actually want to do another one! Just like a mother forgets the pain of childbirth a runner forgets the pain of the run.
There was something else spectacular about the race. People of all size and shape, color and appearance were there with a common goal, to cross a finish line. No pressure to look a certain way, act a certain way or be a certain way. Just a bunch of runners getting ready to flow down the streets at different paces, for different reasons and with different strides. It didn't seem like anyone was worried about fitting in or looking perfect, just focusing on the run they were getting ready to complete. It made me think about life in general and how so often we try to "fit in" with the crowd while worrying over superficial things that do not matter. If we are running the race God has set before us we shouldn't worry about the runners around us or where they are going. Each of us has been given our own race to run and was perfectly designed to complete it. The talents we were given and the personalities we have are not random. God made us with a purpose and when we choose to follow Him along the path He has planned for us we can count on Him always being there to guide us. It's only when we take off on our own or attempt to follow another person's path that we get lost and miss out on the blessings God has waiting for us. So often we worry about not fitting in or think God's path is too boring so we get off track and eventually find ourselves out of breath and exhausted. However, if we stay focused on where the Lord is taking us and concentrate on the finish line (Heaven) we may still get tired and occasionally get a blister or sore knee, but we will finish strong and victorious. Hope to see you at the finish line.
This is exactly how I felt about completing my first half marathon. The first five miles were a piece of cake, fun even. Then I crossed a bridge and my iPod was zapped. Not sure what happened but the thing would not even turn on. The next three miles were still pretty easy but quite boring. Then came mile 9...sure I saw my husband and adorable children cheering me on but the realization that I still had 4.1 miles to go sunk in. By mile 11 I thought I was dying and was sure someone had played a cruel trick on me and decided to bump the finish line back an additional five miles. But there it was in the distance...red and white balloons and the crowd gathering. I thought to myself, "I think I can do this through Christ, I think I can do this through Christ, I CAN do this through Christ, I 'm doing this through Christ, I'm doing this through Christ" and before I knew it I was crossing the finish line alongside my sweet friend, Stacey.
Whew. It was over. I did it. And I will never do it again! I hobbled around in search of bottled water and nearly kissed a young gangsta-looking boy smack on the mouth when he held a bottle of water out to me. I was hurting. My knee was throbbing, my lungs burning and my stomach churning but by golly I just ran 13.1 miles nonstop and through it all I was feeling pretty darn good about it. Later we went to breakfast to celebrate the accomplishment and I have never enjoyed a Belgian waffle like I did that one. Knowing not a single calorie was sticking around I loaded it up with butter, syrup, blueberries and confectioners sugar.
The real pain set in once I got home though. I was sore everywhere and had a hard time walking, standing and even sitting. I took a hot shower then popped pills like candy. Funny thing happened though when I woke the next morning. I wasn't as sore anymore and even thought, "well, that was kind of fun." And here I am today, three days later, wondering when my next 1/2 marathon is going to be. I can't wait! I actually want to do another one! Just like a mother forgets the pain of childbirth a runner forgets the pain of the run.
There was something else spectacular about the race. People of all size and shape, color and appearance were there with a common goal, to cross a finish line. No pressure to look a certain way, act a certain way or be a certain way. Just a bunch of runners getting ready to flow down the streets at different paces, for different reasons and with different strides. It didn't seem like anyone was worried about fitting in or looking perfect, just focusing on the run they were getting ready to complete. It made me think about life in general and how so often we try to "fit in" with the crowd while worrying over superficial things that do not matter. If we are running the race God has set before us we shouldn't worry about the runners around us or where they are going. Each of us has been given our own race to run and was perfectly designed to complete it. The talents we were given and the personalities we have are not random. God made us with a purpose and when we choose to follow Him along the path He has planned for us we can count on Him always being there to guide us. It's only when we take off on our own or attempt to follow another person's path that we get lost and miss out on the blessings God has waiting for us. So often we worry about not fitting in or think God's path is too boring so we get off track and eventually find ourselves out of breath and exhausted. However, if we stay focused on where the Lord is taking us and concentrate on the finish line (Heaven) we may still get tired and occasionally get a blister or sore knee, but we will finish strong and victorious. Hope to see you at the finish line.
Me and Stacey
So your kids may not race to the table when you serve roasted cauliflower for a side dish but you can feel good about serving them something healthy and delicious alongside grilled steaks. And who knows, maybe they will love it...
Roasted Cauliflower
1 large head of cauliflower, cut into florets
1/4 cup olive oil
salt and pepper
1/4 cup prepared tapenade (found in deli section of grocery store)
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Rinse and dry cauliflower then place on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss well to coat. Place in oven and roast until edges of cauliflower begin to brown. Remove from oven, place in serving bowl and toss with tapenade. Enjoy!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Dora The Explorer Has The Wrong Map
"Who do we ask for help when we don't know which way to go?" asks Dora. "The Map!" exclaim my children. "That's right, the Map!" Dora responds. "Wait...no! Not the Map!" I think to myself. "You ask the Lord, kids! The Lord!" But before I can snatch up the remote control to turn off our TV and begin preaching the sermon "Always Seek God First" to my unsuspecting children, I am convicted that I myself seek all kinds of "maps" before turning to the Lord for help.
So often I find myself grabbing the phone to call my husband, mom, mother-in-law or friend to ask an opinion or seek advice BEFORE I go to the Lord. I know the Bible is The Map for life but it requires work and in my spiritual laziness I just want to pick up the phone and allow someone else to pour out the information I am seeking. It's quicker and much easier to explain a problem to someone who is tangible than it is to open the Bible and research what God has to "say." And let's be honest here, God doesn't always speak loud and clear. Or could it be that I am too busy making phone calls to hear Him?
Psalm 119: 33-37 says, "Teach me, O Lord, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end. Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart. Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word."
If I would only learn to pray these verses whenever I find myself at a crossroad instead of using my Grabba Phone System I could be confident in the paths I choose. Jeremiah 29:11 says the Lord knows the plans He has for me and that they are good plans. He doesn't say my mom, friend or neighbor knows the plans for my life, He tells me only He does. So the next time I need to know which way to go, don't anticipate a phone call from me. I'm trusting the Lord to give me His understanding and for now on I'll be reading The Map for directions. And while Dora has the right idea, she simply has the wrong map.
Get your "explorers" out of the house and go strawberry picking then follow these directions for a really easy and delicious homemade strawberry jam!
Strawberry Jam
3 pints fresh strawberries
3 cups superfine sugar (yeah, it's a lot but sooo worth it)
2 tbsp orange juice
1/2 Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored and small-diced
1/2 cup fresh blueberries
Rinse and hull the strawberries then slice into quarters (leave smaller berries whole). Place the strawberries in a large heavy bottom pot and toss them with the sugar and orange juice. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat then add the apple and blueberries. Keep boiling and occasionally stirring for 25-30 minutes (until candy thermometer reaches 220 degrees). Skim off any foam that rises to the top. Allow to cool to room temperature then store covered in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Serve with sliced and toasted baguettes or in a PB&J sandwich!
**NOTE: The apple serves as the pectin in this jam and you don't notice it or the blueberries once cooked.
So often I find myself grabbing the phone to call my husband, mom, mother-in-law or friend to ask an opinion or seek advice BEFORE I go to the Lord. I know the Bible is The Map for life but it requires work and in my spiritual laziness I just want to pick up the phone and allow someone else to pour out the information I am seeking. It's quicker and much easier to explain a problem to someone who is tangible than it is to open the Bible and research what God has to "say." And let's be honest here, God doesn't always speak loud and clear. Or could it be that I am too busy making phone calls to hear Him?
Psalm 119: 33-37 says, "Teach me, O Lord, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end. Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart. Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word."
If I would only learn to pray these verses whenever I find myself at a crossroad instead of using my Grabba Phone System I could be confident in the paths I choose. Jeremiah 29:11 says the Lord knows the plans He has for me and that they are good plans. He doesn't say my mom, friend or neighbor knows the plans for my life, He tells me only He does. So the next time I need to know which way to go, don't anticipate a phone call from me. I'm trusting the Lord to give me His understanding and for now on I'll be reading The Map for directions. And while Dora has the right idea, she simply has the wrong map.
Get your "explorers" out of the house and go strawberry picking then follow these directions for a really easy and delicious homemade strawberry jam!
Strawberry Jam
3 pints fresh strawberries
3 cups superfine sugar (yeah, it's a lot but sooo worth it)
2 tbsp orange juice
1/2 Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored and small-diced
1/2 cup fresh blueberries
Rinse and hull the strawberries then slice into quarters (leave smaller berries whole). Place the strawberries in a large heavy bottom pot and toss them with the sugar and orange juice. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat then add the apple and blueberries. Keep boiling and occasionally stirring for 25-30 minutes (until candy thermometer reaches 220 degrees). Skim off any foam that rises to the top. Allow to cool to room temperature then store covered in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Serve with sliced and toasted baguettes or in a PB&J sandwich!
**NOTE: The apple serves as the pectin in this jam and you don't notice it or the blueberries once cooked.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Heart Broken
My Bible study this past week was on broken hearts. Kind of ironic that the week ended with Valentine's Day but as I read I learned a lot about myself and the health of my own heart.
I like to refer to myself as a "tough" girl. Not the kind that can kick your butt, I'm talking about the kind that can't be hurt or at least the kind you can't tell is hurt. I've always had a pretty high tolerance to physical pain (we're not talking childbirth here) but emotionally, I'm rock solid. A lot like my dad, you won't see us cry. I get that about-to-cry-burning-sensation in my sinuses and fight it like an ear biting, lisp speaking boxer and come out a champ every time. I can't stand for someone to see me cry. I get embarrassed and feel extremely vulnerable. Don't get me wrong, I do feel sad and am moved by many things I just don't allow myself the freedom to express what I am feeling. I'm not sure why I am this way. It's not that I have suffered multiple losses in my life it's just something I guess I have always done as a form of self-preservation.
Then this week during my Bible study, Breaking Free by Beth Moore, I read something that opened my eyes to the condition of my heart. In the study Beth writes, "Life's way of reacting to a crushed heart is to wrap tough sinews of flesh around it and tempt us to promise we'll never let ourselves get hurt again. That's not God's way. Remember, self-made fortresses built to protect our hearts not only keep love from going out but they keep love from coming in. We risk becoming captives in our own protective fortresses." I realized that though I might not have suffered devastating losses in my life there have been little hurts here and there that have stung just enough to convince me to build a fort around my heart. I have been a captive of my own fortress.
I am slowly breaking free of the strongholds Satan has tried to use against me and I have come to see a vulnerable heart is not a bad thing. It's a heart that may be broken but one that can be healed and used for God's glory. It has been hard but the walls of Ft. Carrie have been coming down and I'm learning how to let the Lord bandage the cracks that have been hidden in my heart. I know I can trust the Lord to protect my heart but if he chooses to allow some breaking to occur I will allow Him to use it for His purpose.
Ok, so the words from Elvis's song "Heartbreak Hotel" are rolling around in my head and I can't help but laugh so...since my baby's still with me, his favorite dinner's on the menu tonight, pasta with tomatoes and scallops, will make him a happy man alright...
Pasta with Tomatoes and Scallops
1 lb fresh scallops (or shrimp)
1 lb rigate pasta
12 roma or plum tomatoes, chopped
3 large cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Cook pasta according to directions then drain and set aside. Rinse scallops then pat dry and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Heat oil in large pan over med heat. Add garlic and saute for a minute then add scallops. Cook until scallops are golden brown on both sides. Add tomatoes and reduce heat to simmer. Stir well then add basil. Let simmer for 5 minutes then add pasta and toss. Serve with Parmesan cheese, a salad and fresh baked bread.
I like to refer to myself as a "tough" girl. Not the kind that can kick your butt, I'm talking about the kind that can't be hurt or at least the kind you can't tell is hurt. I've always had a pretty high tolerance to physical pain (we're not talking childbirth here) but emotionally, I'm rock solid. A lot like my dad, you won't see us cry. I get that about-to-cry-burning-sensation in my sinuses and fight it like an ear biting, lisp speaking boxer and come out a champ every time. I can't stand for someone to see me cry. I get embarrassed and feel extremely vulnerable. Don't get me wrong, I do feel sad and am moved by many things I just don't allow myself the freedom to express what I am feeling. I'm not sure why I am this way. It's not that I have suffered multiple losses in my life it's just something I guess I have always done as a form of self-preservation.
Then this week during my Bible study, Breaking Free by Beth Moore, I read something that opened my eyes to the condition of my heart. In the study Beth writes, "Life's way of reacting to a crushed heart is to wrap tough sinews of flesh around it and tempt us to promise we'll never let ourselves get hurt again. That's not God's way. Remember, self-made fortresses built to protect our hearts not only keep love from going out but they keep love from coming in. We risk becoming captives in our own protective fortresses." I realized that though I might not have suffered devastating losses in my life there have been little hurts here and there that have stung just enough to convince me to build a fort around my heart. I have been a captive of my own fortress.
I am slowly breaking free of the strongholds Satan has tried to use against me and I have come to see a vulnerable heart is not a bad thing. It's a heart that may be broken but one that can be healed and used for God's glory. It has been hard but the walls of Ft. Carrie have been coming down and I'm learning how to let the Lord bandage the cracks that have been hidden in my heart. I know I can trust the Lord to protect my heart but if he chooses to allow some breaking to occur I will allow Him to use it for His purpose.
Ok, so the words from Elvis's song "Heartbreak Hotel" are rolling around in my head and I can't help but laugh so...since my baby's still with me, his favorite dinner's on the menu tonight, pasta with tomatoes and scallops, will make him a happy man alright...
Pasta with Tomatoes and Scallops
1 lb fresh scallops (or shrimp)
1 lb rigate pasta
12 roma or plum tomatoes, chopped
3 large cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Cook pasta according to directions then drain and set aside. Rinse scallops then pat dry and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Heat oil in large pan over med heat. Add garlic and saute for a minute then add scallops. Cook until scallops are golden brown on both sides. Add tomatoes and reduce heat to simmer. Stir well then add basil. Let simmer for 5 minutes then add pasta and toss. Serve with Parmesan cheese, a salad and fresh baked bread.
Monday, February 1, 2010
A Christian "Runner's High"
I wish I would have written this entry while still "high" off my 8 mile run last Saturday but as life goes, there seemed to be something constantly begging for my attention and before I knew it time had once again escaped. Anyway, I will try to write with as much emotion as I experienced while running that last mile.
As you probably know by now, I am training for a half marathon. My training schedule has me running 5 times a week with a long run (ranging from 5 to 10 miles) on Saturdays. This past Saturday I was scheduled to run 8 miles, the longest I have ever run in my life, and I was feeling a little intimidated not to mention, apprehensive. There were storm clouds hovering nearby and the wind was picking up. Rain was predicted for the day and I was hoping to complete my run before it began to pour. I geared up (in those perfect fitting shoes) and headed for the door. I grabbed my iPod and turned it on only to notice the battery was showing a sliver of red left indicating the battery would die at any moment. Great. An 8 mile run without Days of Elijah, without U2, without inspiration. I decided to take a chance and bring it along anyway, after all I might be able to get down the driveway with at least part of a song to get me going. Before I chose my playlist though I decided to stop and pray over the songs I would listen to. I asked God to "shuffle" the songs for me and in the order I needed them, then I pressed "shuffle" and walked out the door.
I don't remember the first song or the next 19 but as I turned the corner on mile 7 and asked God to help me finish strong a familiar song came on, "It's All About You (God)" came on and no sooner that I had made my request to God. The song by Nate Sallie was perfect. It is actually one of my "pick me up" songs that I have on several playlists. It's a song with an up beat tempo and great lyrics that remind me life and everything to do with it, is not about me but about God. Thank you Lord! As silly as it seems it worked but then I turned the next corner and faced a daunting hill. Yes, there are hills in Florida (and after running 7 miles the slightest increase can seem like a mountain) and as I began my ascent of 'Mt. Tarpon' a new song came on. A song with a much slower beat that was asking, "Do They See Jesus in Me"? Not exactly a Rocky (1, 2, 3, 4 or 5) motivational song but I climbed away.
As I approached the final corner and mile of my run I was exhausted but I knew I was going to be "ok" since I had asked the Lord to help me finish strong and surely the wind would be at my back now and the ground would be flat, right? This is how the Lord was going to help me, I just knew it. That would have been nice and sure would have made it easier for me but as I rounded the corner I was greeted with a gust of wind that was enough to make me feel as if I was standing still. Seriously, Lord? This is your way of helping me finish strong? I had flight in mind or the road beneath my feet transforming into a moving sidewalk but gale force winds?? Come on?! But as I bowed my head to keep my visor from flying off, "I Sing Holy, Holy, Holy" began playing on my iPod and I felt the Lord's presence stronger than the wind. The words of the song filled my heart and I couldn't help but be moved (figuratively and literally). It was as if the Lord in Heaven was looking down upon me, with the wind swirling and clouds forming, telling me no matter what storms came my way and no matter what adversity I faced, I could get through ANYTHING because He is ALWAYS with me and is HOLY, HOLY, HOLY!
I wish my words could give the moment justice. I was so overwhelmed with His presence that as I picked up the pace and finished the last mile faster than I began the first one tears streamed down my face. I finished my run and had a hard time catching my breath, not because I was tired or winded but because God had taken my breath away! I walked the rest of the way home cooling off to "Open The Eyes of My Heart Lord" and was amazed at the miracles God had just performed for me. They weren't earth shattering or sea dividing but an iPod running for over an hour on an empty battery, a song coming on at the perfect time and finishing a run strong with supernatural strength were enough to make me feel loved and deeply cared for.
According to an online dictionary a "runner's high" is defined as: a state of euphoria experienced during prolonged running or other forms of aerobic, sustained exercise, attributed to an increase of endorphins in the blood. Some might say I was simply experiencing a runner's high but I am convinced it was more, perhaps a Christian runner's high.
Dinner could possibly lead to a state of euphoria if you enjoy the taste of the Islands since Macadamia Nut Chicken with Mango-Pineapple Relish, roasted broccoli and couscous is what's on the menu for tonight.
Macadamia Nut Chicken
1/2 cup soy sauce
1 1/2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp mirin (found on Asian isle at grocery store)
1 tsp minced fresh ginger
1 garlic clove, minced
5 tbsp olive oil, divided
6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 cup macadamia nuts, finely chopped
3/4 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 tbsp butter
Whisk together first 5 ingredients and 1 tbsp oil in a bowl. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper then place in a large zip-top bag. Pour marinade over chicken, seal bag and place in fridge to chill 1 hour while turning occasionally to coat. Combine nuts and panko in shallow dish. Place flour in a separate shallow dish then eggs in another shallow dish. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Remove chicken from bag (discard marinade) and dredge in flour, dip in eggs then dredge in crumb mixture. Heat 4 tbsp oil and 1 tbsp butter in a large skillet over med-high heat. cook 3 chicken breasts on each side until golden. Transfer chicken to a sheet pan then repeat procedure with remaining 2 tbsp oil and 1 tbsp butter until all chicken breasts have been cooked until golden. Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until chicken is done. Serve with Mango-Pineapple Relish.
Mango-Pineapple Relish
1 cup mango, diced
1 cup pineapple, diced
1/3 cup sugar
Place all ingredients in a med saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Makes 1 cup and great served over chicken, grilled fish or pork.
Roasted Broccoli
1 bunch of broccoli, chopped into florets
3 tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper
Juice and zest from 1 lemon
Parmesan cheese
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Place broccoli on a cookie sheet and drizzle with oil then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place in oven and roast 20 minutes or until edges of broccoli begin to brown. Remove from oven and toss with lemon juice, zest and Parmesan cheese.
Note: I used Marrakesh Express Mango Salsa couscous found on the rice/pasta isle at grocery stores.
As you probably know by now, I am training for a half marathon. My training schedule has me running 5 times a week with a long run (ranging from 5 to 10 miles) on Saturdays. This past Saturday I was scheduled to run 8 miles, the longest I have ever run in my life, and I was feeling a little intimidated not to mention, apprehensive. There were storm clouds hovering nearby and the wind was picking up. Rain was predicted for the day and I was hoping to complete my run before it began to pour. I geared up (in those perfect fitting shoes) and headed for the door. I grabbed my iPod and turned it on only to notice the battery was showing a sliver of red left indicating the battery would die at any moment. Great. An 8 mile run without Days of Elijah, without U2, without inspiration. I decided to take a chance and bring it along anyway, after all I might be able to get down the driveway with at least part of a song to get me going. Before I chose my playlist though I decided to stop and pray over the songs I would listen to. I asked God to "shuffle" the songs for me and in the order I needed them, then I pressed "shuffle" and walked out the door.
I don't remember the first song or the next 19 but as I turned the corner on mile 7 and asked God to help me finish strong a familiar song came on, "It's All About You (God)" came on and no sooner that I had made my request to God. The song by Nate Sallie was perfect. It is actually one of my "pick me up" songs that I have on several playlists. It's a song with an up beat tempo and great lyrics that remind me life and everything to do with it, is not about me but about God. Thank you Lord! As silly as it seems it worked but then I turned the next corner and faced a daunting hill. Yes, there are hills in Florida (and after running 7 miles the slightest increase can seem like a mountain) and as I began my ascent of 'Mt. Tarpon' a new song came on. A song with a much slower beat that was asking, "Do They See Jesus in Me"? Not exactly a Rocky (1, 2, 3, 4 or 5) motivational song but I climbed away.
As I approached the final corner and mile of my run I was exhausted but I knew I was going to be "ok" since I had asked the Lord to help me finish strong and surely the wind would be at my back now and the ground would be flat, right? This is how the Lord was going to help me, I just knew it. That would have been nice and sure would have made it easier for me but as I rounded the corner I was greeted with a gust of wind that was enough to make me feel as if I was standing still. Seriously, Lord? This is your way of helping me finish strong? I had flight in mind or the road beneath my feet transforming into a moving sidewalk but gale force winds?? Come on?! But as I bowed my head to keep my visor from flying off, "I Sing Holy, Holy, Holy" began playing on my iPod and I felt the Lord's presence stronger than the wind. The words of the song filled my heart and I couldn't help but be moved (figuratively and literally). It was as if the Lord in Heaven was looking down upon me, with the wind swirling and clouds forming, telling me no matter what storms came my way and no matter what adversity I faced, I could get through ANYTHING because He is ALWAYS with me and is HOLY, HOLY, HOLY!
I wish my words could give the moment justice. I was so overwhelmed with His presence that as I picked up the pace and finished the last mile faster than I began the first one tears streamed down my face. I finished my run and had a hard time catching my breath, not because I was tired or winded but because God had taken my breath away! I walked the rest of the way home cooling off to "Open The Eyes of My Heart Lord" and was amazed at the miracles God had just performed for me. They weren't earth shattering or sea dividing but an iPod running for over an hour on an empty battery, a song coming on at the perfect time and finishing a run strong with supernatural strength were enough to make me feel loved and deeply cared for.
According to an online dictionary a "runner's high" is defined as: a state of euphoria experienced during prolonged running or other forms of aerobic, sustained exercise, attributed to an increase of endorphins in the blood. Some might say I was simply experiencing a runner's high but I am convinced it was more, perhaps a Christian runner's high.
Dinner could possibly lead to a state of euphoria if you enjoy the taste of the Islands since Macadamia Nut Chicken with Mango-Pineapple Relish, roasted broccoli and couscous is what's on the menu for tonight.
Macadamia Nut Chicken
1/2 cup soy sauce
1 1/2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp mirin (found on Asian isle at grocery store)
1 tsp minced fresh ginger
1 garlic clove, minced
5 tbsp olive oil, divided
6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 cup macadamia nuts, finely chopped
3/4 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 tbsp butter
Whisk together first 5 ingredients and 1 tbsp oil in a bowl. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper then place in a large zip-top bag. Pour marinade over chicken, seal bag and place in fridge to chill 1 hour while turning occasionally to coat. Combine nuts and panko in shallow dish. Place flour in a separate shallow dish then eggs in another shallow dish. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Remove chicken from bag (discard marinade) and dredge in flour, dip in eggs then dredge in crumb mixture. Heat 4 tbsp oil and 1 tbsp butter in a large skillet over med-high heat. cook 3 chicken breasts on each side until golden. Transfer chicken to a sheet pan then repeat procedure with remaining 2 tbsp oil and 1 tbsp butter until all chicken breasts have been cooked until golden. Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until chicken is done. Serve with Mango-Pineapple Relish.
Mango-Pineapple Relish
1 cup mango, diced
1 cup pineapple, diced
1/3 cup sugar
Place all ingredients in a med saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Makes 1 cup and great served over chicken, grilled fish or pork.
Roasted Broccoli
1 bunch of broccoli, chopped into florets
3 tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper
Juice and zest from 1 lemon
Parmesan cheese
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Place broccoli on a cookie sheet and drizzle with oil then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place in oven and roast 20 minutes or until edges of broccoli begin to brown. Remove from oven and toss with lemon juice, zest and Parmesan cheese.
Note: I used Marrakesh Express Mango Salsa couscous found on the rice/pasta isle at grocery stores.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
A Perfect Fit
Today was the first time I bought a pair of tennis shoes (though they will be used for running and not tennis) for the way they fit and not because of the way they looked. This is a big deal for me. I was not exactly the "athletic type" growing up and tennis shoes or sneakers, if you will, were purchase solely (no pun intended) to serve the purpose of completing an outfit. A cute pair of Keds here and occasionally a simple pair of white Nike's there. Actually, I don't think I wore a pair of tennis shoes a single day throughout my entire high school career. I was more of a "Sam & Libby" girl. Anyway since I began running I have done research on the type of shoes I should wear. I discovered that I have a high arch and tend to underpronate when I run. Yeah, it didn't make much sense to me at first either until I went to buy a new pair of tennis shoes and followed in my familiar footsteps of choosing the cutest pair I could find. Success! A cute pair of white and gray Nike's, with just a hint of pink for a feminine touch, jumped out at me. Found my size, tried them on, pranced around a bit and took them home. BIG MISTAKE.I was pretty bummed to be buying new shoes in the first place. I had a pair that were perfect and already broken in. I had purchased them a few years earlier and only wore them to go on walks but promoted them to running shoes last summer when I realized running was something I enjoyed. Well, me and those shoes were getting along just fine until a week before Halloween when our pumpkin decided to explode all over them. Little did I know the humid Florida weather, a little sprinkler over spray and a ripe pumpkin could cause such a mess. I'll spare you the gory and stinky details and just say my beloved shoes met their final unrecycled resting place in a landfill not too far off...sigh. So began my search for a new pair of shoes.
The shoes that ultimately became the mistake gave me blisters, calloused my toes and made my ankles hurt. Was my running career over already? And all this just a month before my 1/2 marathon debut? But then came the advice of a wise running friend, "Have you ever looked up a shoe guide?" What? They make shoe guides? Off I went searching for the guide that would tell me the perfect shoe for my "uncle" crying feet. A few days of researching led to a match made in podiatry heaven [cue the angelic choir] I had found my perfect shoes! I was told to purchase Asics GEL-Pulse shoes that would help with my underpronation, support my high arch and help me to run correctly. I hurried my way up to our local sportswear store and found the prized shoes, but wait, where was my size?? They were no where to be found! Ooooooh, here they are...whew! Imagine my excitement as I sat down on the bench and gingerly laid the gray and navy shoebox down right beside me and guarded it closely as I began to remove my flip flops and pull on the pair of socks I brought to "test drive" the shoes. I was overcome with joy as I lifted the lid to the box, pulled back the tissue, AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!! They're black!!! What? I cannot wear black tennis shoes!! It goes against everything I am, everything I have ever been! I repeat, I cannot wear black running shoes. I took a deep breath as my shoulders slumped. "What's the problem?" my husband nonchalantly asked. I explained my dilemma and was confronted with frustration from him. He did not understand that he was staring into the eyes of a woman who had ALWAYS chosen her shoes for the way they looked. He tried to explain the fit was all that mattered and began to attempt to sway me into purchasing the hideous black beasts. I was convinced our children, who were quiet bored by this time, were influencing his thinking and he was ready for a decision to me made, a transaction to occur and children to be buckled (ok restrained) safely in a car and on our way home for dinner.
The Asics GEL-Pulse shoes did come in a much more appropriate white with navy and light blue designs but they were completely sold out of anything close to my size. If I wanted that shoe, in my size, I was going to have to start viewing the "beasts" as the "beauties". It wasn't happening. After much deliberating and the considering of other choices we left without the perfect shoes. Maybe it just wasn't meant to be. The next day I ran in the afore mentioned white, gray and a touch of pink, shoes only to develop a blister in a new spot. That afternoon I called several other sports stores to track down the shoes made for me, only to be told they were sold out or no longer carried. One last attempt proved to be worth while when the shoes of my dreams were located (of course at a store a stinking hour, ok maybe just 45 minutes away) and today we were joined together in running bliss.
So what's the point in all this you ask? It occurred to me this afternoon as I was cleaning that many times in life we put so much time and effort into outward appearances and superficial things when we should be concentrating on what really "fits" or matters the most. The shoes that were pretty on the outside were really (go with me here) ugly on the inside. They hurt my feet and kept me from running a good race. The shoes that were not the best looking on the outside (even the white ones aren't that great) are absolutely beautiful on the inside and are going to prepare me to cross the finish line strong in a few weeks. These shoes, like the Lord's plan for our lives, are a perfect fit. I Samuel 16:7 says, "The Lord does not look at things man (woman) looks at. Man (Woman) looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."
Ok, so maybe it's a stretch but it was a great reminder for me to not concentrate so much on outward appearances but to focus on being beautiful on the inside and to the Lord because it's that kind of beauty that will win the "real" race, the one with the great prize.
"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever."
I Corinthians 9: 24-25
Seeing how we have to leave for church in under an hour the race is on for dinner...Easy Calzones and a tossed salad.
Easy Calzones
1 lb ground beef or turkey
1 small onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup spaghetti sauce
1/2 tsp dried Italian seasoning
1 container (11oz) refrigerated French bread dough
4 slices (1 oz each) mozzarella cheese
nonstick cooking spray
2 tbsp melted butter
grated Parmesan cheese
garlic salt
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Coat a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray. In large skillet brown meat with onion and garlic. Drain well then stir in spaghetti sauce and Italian seasoning. Unroll dough onto lightly floured surface and roll or press with your fingers to a 16-inch square. Cut the dough into 4 even squares then transfer to baking sheet. Spoon equal amounts of the meat mixture into the center of each square and top with a slice of cheese. Fold each square over to form a triangle, pressing the edges to seal. Brush melted butter over each triangle and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and garlic salt. Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until golden. Serve immediately with salad and enjoy!
Monday, January 25, 2010
Are You Hungry?
Though I wouldn't say I have an eating disorder there has definitely been a disorder to my eating. For as long as I can remember I have been a slave to the scale. My daily diet and attitude would revolve around whatever weight it ruled over me. Every morning I would step on the scale, take a deep breath then slowly look down. From that point on my day would be decided. Either I would eat three very small meals and be miserable (have to keep up the routine or I might gain a pound) or I would eat even less and be really miserable. Throughout the day I would yell at my kids, snap at my husband and wonder at the end of each rampage why I was so angry. Then last week while working on a Bible study (Beth Moore's Breaking Free) I read I Corinthians 10:31 and everything began to click for me. I realized I wasn't glorifying God with the way I was eating and I was angry because I was hungry.
God never intended for us to starve or even be hungry and being hungry doesn't make us righteous either. I had been eating and drinking to glorify myself not God and "dieting" to maintain what I wanted, a small number on the scale. When I would succeed I felt powerful, content (though temporarily), in control and glorious. I was torturing myself (not to mention my family) in vain because even when the scale told me what I wanted I still wasn't happy. After all it meant I had to keep up the "diet" and what I really wanted to do was just eat and be happy! I let this area of my life become a stronghold and it wasn't glorifying God.
Then it dawned on me today that we can be "hungry" for things other than food. We can be "hungry" for love, peace, contentment, excitement and other things that we search for and try to control or fill on our own only to be disappointed with the outcomes. The verse above says "or whatever you do, do it for the glory of God." This means in all areas of our life we need to be glorifying God. If we are looking for love, we need to speak of His undying love for us that sent His son to the cross. If we are looking for peace, we need to be obedient to His will. If we are hungry for contentment or excitement, we need to spend time with the Lover of our soul, the only one who can truly satisfy us. And when we eat and drink we need to do so in a healthy way that gives strength and energy to our bodies, His temple. Galatians 5:1 says, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." We don't have to be slaves to the things we desire. Christ came to set us free and He can and will meet all of our needs.
So after reading these verses I made a few changes. For one I threw away our scale. I hated seeing my daughter hop on the scale after me even though she had no idea what she was doing. Strongholds start somewhere, right? Next I started eating. I haven't gone crazy, I'm not a nutritionist but I know junk in=junk out. I have been making healthy choices and eating simply when I get hungry. I now eat three meals a day with healthy snacks in between. And it's working. I'm not hungry and I've been a much happier mom and wife.
Are you hungry? Grab an apple and your Bible and get all filled up.
Here's a healthy dinner menu for you to feel good about eating and serving your family, Enchilada Casserole with Southwestern salad.
Enchilada Casserole
Sauce
1 8-oz can tomato sauce
1 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
Salsa
1 14-oz can Italian plum tomatoes, diced
1 4-oz can diced green chilies
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper (omit if you want a mild salsa)
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cumin
Enchiladas
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1/2 tsp olive oil
1/4 cup onion, chopped
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/2 cup canned mushroom stems and pieces, drained
2 tbsp diced green chilies
3/4 cup freshly grated low-fat cheddar cheese
3/4 cup freshly grated part-skim mozzarella cheese
3 8-inch flour tortillas
In a covered jar, combine all enchilada sauce ingredients the set aside. In a bowl, combine all salsa ingredients then set aside. In a 2-quart saucepan, bring chicken and chicken broth to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes or until chicken is done. Remove chicken from broth and dice. In a nonstick skillet, heat olive oil then add onion and saute until tender. Toss chicken with onion then sprinkle with cumin and chili powder. Add mushrooms and green chilies. Combine cheeses. Cover the bottom of a nonstick 9-inch round cake pan with 1/3 of the enchilada sauce. Place one of the tortillas over the sauce then top with half the salsa, half the chicken mixture and 1/3 of the cheese. Top with a second tortilla, 1/3 of the enchilada sauce, remainder of salsa and chicken mixture and another 1/3 of the cheese. Top with final tortilla and pour remaining enchilada sauce over the top and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes. 8 Servings.
[204 calories, 6 grams of fat per serving]
Southwestern Salad
1 head of Romaine lettuce chopped
1 small can of Mexican style corn (with black beans and peppers)
1 small red onion, chopped
1/2 cup low-fat shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
Dressing
1 cup low or reduced fat Ranch dressing
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tbsp fat free sour cream
Combine all salad ingredients in a large bowl then set aside. Mix all dressing ingredients well then serve with salad.
"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."
God never intended for us to starve or even be hungry and being hungry doesn't make us righteous either. I had been eating and drinking to glorify myself not God and "dieting" to maintain what I wanted, a small number on the scale. When I would succeed I felt powerful, content (though temporarily), in control and glorious. I was torturing myself (not to mention my family) in vain because even when the scale told me what I wanted I still wasn't happy. After all it meant I had to keep up the "diet" and what I really wanted to do was just eat and be happy! I let this area of my life become a stronghold and it wasn't glorifying God.
Then it dawned on me today that we can be "hungry" for things other than food. We can be "hungry" for love, peace, contentment, excitement and other things that we search for and try to control or fill on our own only to be disappointed with the outcomes. The verse above says "or whatever you do, do it for the glory of God." This means in all areas of our life we need to be glorifying God. If we are looking for love, we need to speak of His undying love for us that sent His son to the cross. If we are looking for peace, we need to be obedient to His will. If we are hungry for contentment or excitement, we need to spend time with the Lover of our soul, the only one who can truly satisfy us. And when we eat and drink we need to do so in a healthy way that gives strength and energy to our bodies, His temple. Galatians 5:1 says, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." We don't have to be slaves to the things we desire. Christ came to set us free and He can and will meet all of our needs.
So after reading these verses I made a few changes. For one I threw away our scale. I hated seeing my daughter hop on the scale after me even though she had no idea what she was doing. Strongholds start somewhere, right? Next I started eating. I haven't gone crazy, I'm not a nutritionist but I know junk in=junk out. I have been making healthy choices and eating simply when I get hungry. I now eat three meals a day with healthy snacks in between. And it's working. I'm not hungry and I've been a much happier mom and wife.
Are you hungry? Grab an apple and your Bible and get all filled up.
Here's a healthy dinner menu for you to feel good about eating and serving your family, Enchilada Casserole with Southwestern salad.
Enchilada Casserole
Sauce
1 8-oz can tomato sauce
1 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
Salsa
1 14-oz can Italian plum tomatoes, diced
1 4-oz can diced green chilies
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper (omit if you want a mild salsa)
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cumin
Enchiladas
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1/2 tsp olive oil
1/4 cup onion, chopped
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/2 cup canned mushroom stems and pieces, drained
2 tbsp diced green chilies
3/4 cup freshly grated low-fat cheddar cheese
3/4 cup freshly grated part-skim mozzarella cheese
3 8-inch flour tortillas
In a covered jar, combine all enchilada sauce ingredients the set aside. In a bowl, combine all salsa ingredients then set aside. In a 2-quart saucepan, bring chicken and chicken broth to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes or until chicken is done. Remove chicken from broth and dice. In a nonstick skillet, heat olive oil then add onion and saute until tender. Toss chicken with onion then sprinkle with cumin and chili powder. Add mushrooms and green chilies. Combine cheeses. Cover the bottom of a nonstick 9-inch round cake pan with 1/3 of the enchilada sauce. Place one of the tortillas over the sauce then top with half the salsa, half the chicken mixture and 1/3 of the cheese. Top with a second tortilla, 1/3 of the enchilada sauce, remainder of salsa and chicken mixture and another 1/3 of the cheese. Top with final tortilla and pour remaining enchilada sauce over the top and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes. 8 Servings.
[204 calories, 6 grams of fat per serving]
Southwestern Salad
1 head of Romaine lettuce chopped
1 small can of Mexican style corn (with black beans and peppers)
1 small red onion, chopped
1/2 cup low-fat shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
Dressing
1 cup low or reduced fat Ranch dressing
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tbsp fat free sour cream
Combine all salad ingredients in a large bowl then set aside. Mix all dressing ingredients well then serve with salad.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Go Climb A Tree!
I have a computer and one of those touch screen phones but I still prefer to keep track of my life with a pen and paper. I write our dinner menu for the week on a calendar hanging in my kitchen, I keep a list of groceries to buy on a magnetic pad stuck on the side of our fridge and when I have something important to do or remember I make a "to do" list. So I wasn't surprised to find a piece of paper with the words "climd a tree when get home" scribbled on it when going through my 8-year-old son's school notebook. I couldn't help but smile. With the majority of items on my "to do" lists consisting of such mundane things as: organize hall closet, dust house, wash dog, sweep out garage...the thought of adding "climb a tree" was a wonderful distraction.
We had a huge magnolia tree in the front yard of my childhood home. It was a great climbing tree and every spring it would burst with big, fragrant, white blossoms. I would climb to the top, sit on one of the thick branches and peer down at the cul-de-sac below. I could see the roof tops of houses around the corner and into the backyards of homes surrounded by tall privacy fences. Then climbing down I would pluck the blossoms and carry them as treasured bouquets.
It's been a long time since I have climbed a tree and though I am the nervous type of mom who worries her children will come crashing out of the tree destined to break a limb, and not one belonging to the tree, I know there is a great sense of accomplishment that comes with conquering the climb up then back down a tree. So this weekend I plan on helping my son make good on his "to do" list and in the process make memories we'll remember for a lifetime. The dust nor the garage will miss me.
"I thank my God every time I remember you." Philippians 1:4 (NIV)
A great "after climbing a tree" meal is what's for dinner tonight, shrimp and grits!
Shrimp and Grits
2 cups water
1 (14 oz) can chicken broth
3/4 cup half-and-half
3/4 tsp salt
1 cup uncooked regular grits
3/4 cup shredded cheddar
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tbsp butter
1/2 tsp hot sauce
3 slices bacon
1 lb med fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/8 tsp salt
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1/2 cup chopped green onions
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup chicken broth
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/4 tsp hot sauce
Chopped green onions for garnish
Bring first 4 ingredients to a boil in a med saucepan. Slowly whisk in grits then reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally. Once thickened add cheddar and next 3 ingredients. Keep warm. Cook bacon in a large skillet until crispy then drain on paper towels and crumble, reserving drippings. Sprinkle shrimp with pepper and 1/8 tsp salt then dredge in flour. Saute mushrooms in bacon drippings then add green onions, shrimp and garlic and cook until shrimp are lightly browned. Stir in remaining broth, lemon juice and hot sauce and cook for 2 more minutes. Serve shrimp mixture over hot cheese grits. Top with crumbled bacon and chopped green onions. Makes 4 servings.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Slavery
"...you are slaves to the one whom you obey--whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness..." Romans 6:16 (NIV)
I have never been crazy about the use of the word "slave" in the Bible. The word does not evoke warm, fuzzy feelings and I doubt non-believers rush the isles of churches to become "slaves" for Jesus. It seems to have such a negative connotation and though it is dead on for explaining the effects of sin, it can be misleading not to mention repelling when used in terms of the Christian life. We have all heard the reasons people don't choose Jesus and one of the most popular is the fear of having to let go of certain "freedoms." Ironically many of those freedoms come with a steep price. Freedom to have sex outside of marriage costs permanent emotional scars. Freedom to participate in unhealthy habits (from over eating, to abusing alcohol and drugs) costs a stranglehold of addictions. Freedom to choose abortion costs a lifetime of regret.
On the other hand what does obedience cost? It may cost more effort and maybe more discipline but it will never cost a STD, a stint in rehab or a broken spirit. But still, a slave to obedience?? It's definitely not a slogan that would win any campaigns but there really is no other way of describing it. If we are going to live the life we were created for then we have to choose to become a slave to the things the Lord has commanded. A slave to obedience. Not a fair-weather Christian, not a feel-good Christian, not a popular-vote Christian, but a Christian completely committed to the Lord's will. Not swaying, not "flip-flopping", not giving in to sinful desires but standing firm and choosing to be obedient.
We can choose to be a slave to sin (doing what WE want) or we can choose to be a slave to obedience (doing what the LORD wants). Choose the right Master.
Don't be a slave to the kitchen tonight...make cheese steak subs for dinner and you'll be eating in no time!
Cheese Steak Subs
1 box frozen beef sandwich steaks (I like the Philly-Gourmet brand)
1 tsp olive oil
1 tsp Grilled Steak Seasoning
1 small green pepper, sliced
1 small onion, sliced
Mayonnaise
Dijon mustard
4 slices Provolone cheese
4 hoagie buns
Heat skillet over med heat and add oil. Break apart meat and place in skillet. Sprinkle with seasoning and cook until browned. Drain well and set aside. In same skillet saute peppers and onions until tender. Lightly toast hoagie buns in 350 degree oven then assemble sandwiches using mayonnaise and Dijon mustard, meat, peppers, onions then top with cheese. Place back in warm oven to melt cheese if desired. Serve with fries or chips.
I have never been crazy about the use of the word "slave" in the Bible. The word does not evoke warm, fuzzy feelings and I doubt non-believers rush the isles of churches to become "slaves" for Jesus. It seems to have such a negative connotation and though it is dead on for explaining the effects of sin, it can be misleading not to mention repelling when used in terms of the Christian life. We have all heard the reasons people don't choose Jesus and one of the most popular is the fear of having to let go of certain "freedoms." Ironically many of those freedoms come with a steep price. Freedom to have sex outside of marriage costs permanent emotional scars. Freedom to participate in unhealthy habits (from over eating, to abusing alcohol and drugs) costs a stranglehold of addictions. Freedom to choose abortion costs a lifetime of regret.
On the other hand what does obedience cost? It may cost more effort and maybe more discipline but it will never cost a STD, a stint in rehab or a broken spirit. But still, a slave to obedience?? It's definitely not a slogan that would win any campaigns but there really is no other way of describing it. If we are going to live the life we were created for then we have to choose to become a slave to the things the Lord has commanded. A slave to obedience. Not a fair-weather Christian, not a feel-good Christian, not a popular-vote Christian, but a Christian completely committed to the Lord's will. Not swaying, not "flip-flopping", not giving in to sinful desires but standing firm and choosing to be obedient.
We can choose to be a slave to sin (doing what WE want) or we can choose to be a slave to obedience (doing what the LORD wants). Choose the right Master.
Don't be a slave to the kitchen tonight...make cheese steak subs for dinner and you'll be eating in no time!
Cheese Steak Subs
1 box frozen beef sandwich steaks (I like the Philly-Gourmet brand)
1 tsp olive oil
1 tsp Grilled Steak Seasoning
1 small green pepper, sliced
1 small onion, sliced
Mayonnaise
Dijon mustard
4 slices Provolone cheese
4 hoagie buns
Heat skillet over med heat and add oil. Break apart meat and place in skillet. Sprinkle with seasoning and cook until browned. Drain well and set aside. In same skillet saute peppers and onions until tender. Lightly toast hoagie buns in 350 degree oven then assemble sandwiches using mayonnaise and Dijon mustard, meat, peppers, onions then top with cheese. Place back in warm oven to melt cheese if desired. Serve with fries or chips.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
A New Year Resolution
New Year Resolutions. Everyone makes them and nobody keeps them. Ok, maybe a disciplined few do but whether they are to stop smoking or start exercising it seems resolutions are doomed to become irresolutions. I thought it was quiet funny watching people peruse the fitness clothing at a sports store the other day and wondered how many of them thought I was making good on a New Year's Resolution as I made my purchase. Regardless, we still make them every year and this year is no different for me. However, I have chosen to make just one New Year Resolution this year. One that will be impossible not to keep and one that will have a 100% success rate. My New Year Resolution is...to not be perfect. There you have it! And in the time it has taken me to type these few sentences I have already succeeded! I'm not sure if it's "New Year Resolutions" or "New Year's Resolutions", I have hit the delete button multiple times and may have a couple of grammatical errors because I am not perfect! Yay me! Day five of the new year and I have maintained my resolution!
Seriously though, perfectionism is something I have always struggled with. I have all these ideas of how the perfect woman, wife, mother, daughter, sister...should look and behave and I am constantly striving to make those (unrealistic) ideas reality. Then this morning (just hit the delete button again) I read in a devotional, "People usually associate victory with success: not falling or stumbling, not making mistakes. But those who are successful in their own strength tend to go their own way, forgetting about [Jesus]. It is through problems and failure, weakness and neediness that you learn to rely on [Jesus]." (Jesus Calling by Sarah Young.)
I never realized that my desire for perfection was leading me on a path away from God. As I managed to perfect the little things in my life and feel successful, I was moving closer to a self-sufficient attitude and neglecting my need for the Lord. Then it would happen: a few pounds gained, a dinner burnt, an unkind word(s) said, a mistake made and bump, bump, bump, bump, I would fall from the top of the ladder of my idea of success back to the ground with a thud. That much further away from my goal of perfection. But something great always happened as I stood to brush off the dirt and check out my scrapes and bruises. God would always be right there with a first aid kit. "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18
The devotion went on to say, "It is a faith-walk, taken one step at a time, leaning on [Jesus] as much as you need. This is not a path of continual success but of multiple failures. However, each failure is followed by a growth spurt, nourished by increased reliance on [Jesus]." How wonderful to be reminded that I don't have to be perfect, that I don't have to do life all on my own and that when (not if) I fail I will be that much more dependent on Jesus!
So, here's to growth spurts, an imperfect 2010 and Chicken lasagna and 1905 Salad for dinner tonight!
Chicken Lasagna
8 oz lasagna (nine noodles)
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 cup Parmesan cheese
8 oz sour cream
1 cup onion, finely chopped
1 cup black olives, sliced
1/4 cup diced pimientos
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 cup milk
3 cups cooked chicken (see note below)
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Cook and drain lasagna noodles then set aside. Combine all ingredients and mix well. Spread 1/2 cup of chicken mixture on the bottom of a lightly greased 9x13 inch baking dish then layer three noodles, 1/3 chicken mixture, 1/3 cheese. Repeat two more times. Bake at 350 degrees covered until bubbly, about 20-25 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 5 minutes. Let set for 10 minutes before serving.
Note: For recipes that call for "cooked chicken" I drizzle olive oil on split chicken breasts (with skin and bones) then sprinkle them with salt and pepper and roast them in a 350 degree oven for 35-40 minutes. I let the chicken cool then remove the skin and shred the chicken into bite-size pieces. A little primitive but very moist.
1905 Salad (From the Colombia Restaurant)
1 head lettuce, chopped
1/2 lb deli ham, cut into thin strips (julienned)
1/2 lb deli Swiss cheese, cut into thin strips (julienned)
1 jar green olives
2 large tomatoes, sliced
Dressing
1/8 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp dried oregano
2 tsp lemon juice
Place all salad ingredients in a large bowl then toss with dressing.
Seriously though, perfectionism is something I have always struggled with. I have all these ideas of how the perfect woman, wife, mother, daughter, sister...should look and behave and I am constantly striving to make those (unrealistic) ideas reality. Then this morning (just hit the delete button again) I read in a devotional, "People usually associate victory with success: not falling or stumbling, not making mistakes. But those who are successful in their own strength tend to go their own way, forgetting about [Jesus]. It is through problems and failure, weakness and neediness that you learn to rely on [Jesus]." (Jesus Calling by Sarah Young.)
I never realized that my desire for perfection was leading me on a path away from God. As I managed to perfect the little things in my life and feel successful, I was moving closer to a self-sufficient attitude and neglecting my need for the Lord. Then it would happen: a few pounds gained, a dinner burnt, an unkind word(s) said, a mistake made and bump, bump, bump, bump, I would fall from the top of the ladder of my idea of success back to the ground with a thud. That much further away from my goal of perfection. But something great always happened as I stood to brush off the dirt and check out my scrapes and bruises. God would always be right there with a first aid kit. "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18
The devotion went on to say, "It is a faith-walk, taken one step at a time, leaning on [Jesus] as much as you need. This is not a path of continual success but of multiple failures. However, each failure is followed by a growth spurt, nourished by increased reliance on [Jesus]." How wonderful to be reminded that I don't have to be perfect, that I don't have to do life all on my own and that when (not if) I fail I will be that much more dependent on Jesus!
So, here's to growth spurts, an imperfect 2010 and Chicken lasagna and 1905 Salad for dinner tonight!
Chicken Lasagna
8 oz lasagna (nine noodles)
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 cup Parmesan cheese
8 oz sour cream
1 cup onion, finely chopped
1 cup black olives, sliced
1/4 cup diced pimientos
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 cup milk
3 cups cooked chicken (see note below)
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Cook and drain lasagna noodles then set aside. Combine all ingredients and mix well. Spread 1/2 cup of chicken mixture on the bottom of a lightly greased 9x13 inch baking dish then layer three noodles, 1/3 chicken mixture, 1/3 cheese. Repeat two more times. Bake at 350 degrees covered until bubbly, about 20-25 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 5 minutes. Let set for 10 minutes before serving.
Note: For recipes that call for "cooked chicken" I drizzle olive oil on split chicken breasts (with skin and bones) then sprinkle them with salt and pepper and roast them in a 350 degree oven for 35-40 minutes. I let the chicken cool then remove the skin and shred the chicken into bite-size pieces. A little primitive but very moist.
1905 Salad (From the Colombia Restaurant)
1 head lettuce, chopped
1/2 lb deli ham, cut into thin strips (julienned)
1/2 lb deli Swiss cheese, cut into thin strips (julienned)
1 jar green olives
2 large tomatoes, sliced
Dressing
1/8 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp dried oregano
2 tsp lemon juice
Place all salad ingredients in a large bowl then toss with dressing.
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