What's cooking up in the kitchen today?
Friends had a baby and thus I am making meals.... I don't cook meat usually since I switched to a vegetarian diet this past year....but my hubby still loves meat as do my friends....thus today we are cooking up some southern cuisine: Barbecue chicken, coleslaw, fresh diced strawberries and brownies. I also cooked up a veggie pot pie for tomorrow. The kids and I are having a Green Curry Thai soup with bread while Papa enjoys his southern cuisine.
Veggie Pie Recipe:
Made from scratch pie crusts
1 cup shredded carrots
1 cup frozen green peas
1/2 cup diced celery
1/3 cup butter alternative
1/3 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup diced mushrooms
1/2 cup corn
2 cloves of garlic pressed
1/3 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1/4 cup nutritional yeast flakes
1/4 cup ground flaxseed
1 3/4 cups veggie broth or water
2/3 cup milk (regular, soy, or rice)
Saute mushrooms, garlic and onions in butter then mix in with all other ingredients simmering on a pot. boil for about 10-15 minutes until veggies tender and sauce thickened. Pour into pre-baked crust then top with second crust. Cut a few holes in the crust and bake
Bake at 425 F (220 C) for 30 minutes or until crust is golden.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
spinning before the King
this mornings little nuggets from John:
3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease!
4:34 My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.
How often do I set out to accomplish my work instead of being about the work of the Father! How often does His plan for my day get traded for my dreams and aspirations. It's not like I plan to make the trade...it's those little moments that sneak up on me when my flesh is weak....when my site is off the Father...that I am tempted to make the switch...tempted to play the hand on my own... tempted to live out "my will be done" but of course I would never say that...but is that what my life is reflecting? Oh that my life would always reflect "Thy will be done, Thy kingdom come" instead of choices reflecting a striving for a kingdom of my own. So how do we do it? How do we keep our sights on His will, His kingdom while still being the unique individuals He created us to be....How do we live free without demanding that freedom? We are free yet it's a limited freedom as it must fall in step with "Thy will be done, Thy Kingdom come"...so how do we walk that line, find that balance, find the place to dance wildly with the Father's face shining on us. I have this picture of a little girl with golden locks just spinning, dancing, wildly among a field of grass and flowers and then she is called inside....she doesn't want to leave her carefree dancing in the wind but she cheerfully, obediently runs back inside for duty because that is what she has been called to do....yet she carries with her one small flower.... a flower that reminds her of the beauty, of the dancing, of that carefree moment, that freedom to simply be, and enjoy the presence of the King. Submission in marriage & motherhood often seems like that to me....yet I often forget to carry the small flower with me when I must go back inside and I don't pursue my duties cheerfully... that memory before the presence of the King, that spinning wildly, freely...it doesn't linger as it ought when I forget to carry that little flower with me....Oh that I would learn the art of taking a little nugget with me wherever I go so that WHATEVER i am doing, no matter how mundane, or how non-creative, non-dreamy, I am reminded and refreshed by that moment of freely dancing before my King.
Do you ever seek to fulfill your joy in what you do instead of in Christ alone? If so, follow me as I seek to find my satisfaction in Him instead of what I do for Him....
3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease!
4:34 My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.
How often do I set out to accomplish my work instead of being about the work of the Father! How often does His plan for my day get traded for my dreams and aspirations. It's not like I plan to make the trade...it's those little moments that sneak up on me when my flesh is weak....when my site is off the Father...that I am tempted to make the switch...tempted to play the hand on my own... tempted to live out "my will be done" but of course I would never say that...but is that what my life is reflecting? Oh that my life would always reflect "Thy will be done, Thy kingdom come" instead of choices reflecting a striving for a kingdom of my own. So how do we do it? How do we keep our sights on His will, His kingdom while still being the unique individuals He created us to be....How do we live free without demanding that freedom? We are free yet it's a limited freedom as it must fall in step with "Thy will be done, Thy Kingdom come"...so how do we walk that line, find that balance, find the place to dance wildly with the Father's face shining on us. I have this picture of a little girl with golden locks just spinning, dancing, wildly among a field of grass and flowers and then she is called inside....she doesn't want to leave her carefree dancing in the wind but she cheerfully, obediently runs back inside for duty because that is what she has been called to do....yet she carries with her one small flower.... a flower that reminds her of the beauty, of the dancing, of that carefree moment, that freedom to simply be, and enjoy the presence of the King. Submission in marriage & motherhood often seems like that to me....yet I often forget to carry the small flower with me when I must go back inside and I don't pursue my duties cheerfully... that memory before the presence of the King, that spinning wildly, freely...it doesn't linger as it ought when I forget to carry that little flower with me....Oh that I would learn the art of taking a little nugget with me wherever I go so that WHATEVER i am doing, no matter how mundane, or how non-creative, non-dreamy, I am reminded and refreshed by that moment of freely dancing before my King.
Do you ever seek to fulfill your joy in what you do instead of in Christ alone? If so, follow me as I seek to find my satisfaction in Him instead of what I do for Him....
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Give Thanks to the Lord
I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise; 2 I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word. 3 On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased. 4 All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O Lord, for they have heard the words of your mouth, 5 and they shall sing of the ways of the Lord, for great is the glory of the Lord. 6 For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar. 7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me. 8 The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.
~Psalm 138~
The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me...I may not understand it.... I may not know what medium he will use to display the colors that I am but His word says that HE WILL FULFILL....He will fulfill me along with His purpose FOR me... I am a piece of art...a masterpiece in the making with the Master artist brushing the strokes on my canvas of life. Some with vivid colors and some rather bland. Some are smooth strokes while others are more like splats. And as I look more closely I see that the vibrant colors are the splats....the ones produced in the heat of life that is where the colors glow more brightly yet oftentimes this is the very thing I long to get away from...the discomfort and difficulty and yet this is the place that the Master Artist does His most colorful work...
~Psalm 138~
The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me...I may not understand it.... I may not know what medium he will use to display the colors that I am but His word says that HE WILL FULFILL....He will fulfill me along with His purpose FOR me... I am a piece of art...a masterpiece in the making with the Master artist brushing the strokes on my canvas of life. Some with vivid colors and some rather bland. Some are smooth strokes while others are more like splats. And as I look more closely I see that the vibrant colors are the splats....the ones produced in the heat of life that is where the colors glow more brightly yet oftentimes this is the very thing I long to get away from...the discomfort and difficulty and yet this is the place that the Master Artist does His most colorful work...
the act of naming it
A breath of fresh air... "one thousand gifts" by Ann Voskamp. It is so hard to live in an attitude of gratitude, but it is so true that the very act of naming that thing for which you are thankful gives life to it...makes it legit...it takes flight and gives rise to more. I have found it hard of late to remain in a state of thankfulness. If I were honest, I should confess that it has always been hard to remain in a state of thankfulness, I just didn't realize it until recently. Why is it so hard to be satisfied by the morsels I'm given? Well, for starters I often don't see the morsels as a gift.... I see what is being withheld instead of what is being given. But again, that "edenic" naming of the gift helps it take root in my heart. "It is God's will that you be thankful and joyful in all circumstances." 1 Thess 5:16-18 In that moment when i am not joyful, not thankful, do I believe that God has given me everything that I need? No. No I do not believe it. and therein lies my problem. How can I fail to believe God is good? It's because in that moment I am not looking at the scope of things but instead I am looking at one dot on the page...I am looking at myself instead of the giver...i am forgetting that I was not created for comfort... a breath of fresh air... I'll say again, I was not created for comfort!
stock full of ideas
I am a dreamer...a big picture visionary without the authority to make it possible. Yet alas, I can write about it, I can make it legit on paper...I can live through my pen.
The latest idea....
Hotel/Bed & Breakfast....on the outskirts of town.... this is the promised land spoke of in Genesis, where all of life began...possibly where the garden of Eden lay....we can't be sure but Genesis speaks of a river flowing through the garden that out of four rivers came, two of which are still around : the Tigris and Euphrates.... I look at a map and alas here is the outskirts of town. So, back to the bed & breakfast....farm raised eggs, home-grown organic ingredients for the nourishment served...stable out back for horseback tours of the promised land (promised land long handed over to those who are not followers of the cross). Papa could give the history of the land and region since his passion is history, while continuing to write the stories of the people. Maybe a little coffee shop in conjunction with the hotel.... riding lessons for kids.... shuttle service to town and from the airport.... Job opportunity for locals: a cook, cleaning detail, shuttle driver, check-in people - one being on-site management with wife tending to garden and animals since Papa wants to be in the middle of town close to all the people.
Local hotels do not have well built buildings with insulation....you can hear your neighbor using the restroom... so after two stays, this idea was birthed. The rooms mainly have twin beds which is not couple-friendly. I would want to provide privacy and comfort...a haven for the weary traveler and alas a way to contribute to society while allowing our stay there. And yes...ultimately I just long to have horses and a garden of my own coupled with serving the community around me. I sketched the room lay outs and decor, made a list of what to grow in the garden, pastures and horses needed.... it's always fun to hatch an idea, to scratch it out on paper, to let your mind think big...beyond yourself. For twelve years i have lived in one idea....so it's kind of refreshing to hatch another one... so here it is to breathe a little....
queen mother
The latest idea....
Hotel/Bed & Breakfast....on the outskirts of town.... this is the promised land spoke of in Genesis, where all of life began...possibly where the garden of Eden lay....we can't be sure but Genesis speaks of a river flowing through the garden that out of four rivers came, two of which are still around : the Tigris and Euphrates.... I look at a map and alas here is the outskirts of town. So, back to the bed & breakfast....farm raised eggs, home-grown organic ingredients for the nourishment served...stable out back for horseback tours of the promised land (promised land long handed over to those who are not followers of the cross). Papa could give the history of the land and region since his passion is history, while continuing to write the stories of the people. Maybe a little coffee shop in conjunction with the hotel.... riding lessons for kids.... shuttle service to town and from the airport.... Job opportunity for locals: a cook, cleaning detail, shuttle driver, check-in people - one being on-site management with wife tending to garden and animals since Papa wants to be in the middle of town close to all the people.
Local hotels do not have well built buildings with insulation....you can hear your neighbor using the restroom... so after two stays, this idea was birthed. The rooms mainly have twin beds which is not couple-friendly. I would want to provide privacy and comfort...a haven for the weary traveler and alas a way to contribute to society while allowing our stay there. And yes...ultimately I just long to have horses and a garden of my own coupled with serving the community around me. I sketched the room lay outs and decor, made a list of what to grow in the garden, pastures and horses needed.... it's always fun to hatch an idea, to scratch it out on paper, to let your mind think big...beyond yourself. For twelve years i have lived in one idea....so it's kind of refreshing to hatch another one... so here it is to breathe a little....
queen mother
Monday, February 14, 2011
...having the appearance of godliness
...but denying its power. 2 Timothy 3:5
What exactly does it mean to have the appearance of godliness but deny its power?
"Miss anything else, but do not miss my voice. Other voices may introduce disharmony, but my voice will always bring peace to your heart and clarity to your thinking....
Yes, I will keep you in the center of my will and my being, lest on the one hand you move into coldness and doubt, or on the other hand you become carried away by fleshly zeal. There is no neutrality in the center. This is not an arbitrary position. For I will fill you with the abundance of my own life.
Your heart will burn with the fire of my love. You shall rejoice in all kinds of circumstances, because I will share with you my joy; and my joy is completely disassociated from the world and from the people of the world. But I joy in those who joy in me. My love I pour out to those who pour out their lives to Me."
These are just book crumbs I have written in my journal of late and have been chewing on. I think that lately I do have the appearance of godliness yet deny its power in my life. I struggle to endure well....clinging to the cross is my power yet when I look away from the cross and onto my circumstances it is then that I begin to doubt and then that I deny the power of the cross. Clinging to the cross...oh Lord please find me clinging to the cross!
What exactly does it mean to have the appearance of godliness but deny its power?
"Miss anything else, but do not miss my voice. Other voices may introduce disharmony, but my voice will always bring peace to your heart and clarity to your thinking....
Yes, I will keep you in the center of my will and my being, lest on the one hand you move into coldness and doubt, or on the other hand you become carried away by fleshly zeal. There is no neutrality in the center. This is not an arbitrary position. For I will fill you with the abundance of my own life.
Your heart will burn with the fire of my love. You shall rejoice in all kinds of circumstances, because I will share with you my joy; and my joy is completely disassociated from the world and from the people of the world. But I joy in those who joy in me. My love I pour out to those who pour out their lives to Me."
These are just book crumbs I have written in my journal of late and have been chewing on. I think that lately I do have the appearance of godliness yet deny its power in my life. I struggle to endure well....clinging to the cross is my power yet when I look away from the cross and onto my circumstances it is then that I begin to doubt and then that I deny the power of the cross. Clinging to the cross...oh Lord please find me clinging to the cross!
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Thanksgiving Menu!!!
Amy Pope, you asked for recipes and I aim to please so....
The Cheesecake I attempted this year:
The Cheesecake I attempted this year:
- Prep Time:
- 15 min
- Inactive Prep Time:
- 4 hr 15 min
- Cook Time:
- 1 hr 0 min
- Level:
- Easy
- Serves:
- 8 servings
Ingredients
Crust:
- 1 3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 3 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 stick melted salted butter
Filling:
- 3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1 (15-ounce) can pureed pumpkin
- 3 eggs plus 1 egg yolk
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- 2 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
For crust:
In medium bowl, combine crumbs, sugar and cinnamon. Add melted butter. Press down flat into a 9-inch springform pan. Set aside.
For filling:
Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add pumpkin puree, eggs, egg yolk, sour cream, sugar and the spices. Add flour and vanilla. Beat together until well combined.
Pour into crust. Spread out evenly and place oven for 1 hour. Remove from the oven and let sit for 15 minutes. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 4 hours.
Cheesecakes crack easily so some of the tips I read after the fact was to put your springform pan inside a pan of water when you put it in the oven to keep the moisture high in the oven. Once you remove from the oven let it sit for 15 minutes then run a knife around the edge to loosen the cheesecake from the pan.
Hopefully yours will turn out without cracks!
Now for my family's recipe of Cherry-Berries On A Cloud
Ingredients
Meringue Crust:
- 6 Egg Whites
- 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 3/4 cups sugar
Filling:
- 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, at room temperature
- 2 cups chilled whipping cream
- 3 eggs plus 1 egg yolk
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 cups miniature marshmallows
Topping:
- 1 (21 oz) can cherry pie filling *** I make my own, recipe to follow***
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 2 cups sliced fresh strawberries or 1 (16 oz) package frozen strawberries, thawed
- mix together in a bowl to be spread on prior to serving.
Directions
Preheat oven to 275 degrees F (135 degrees C).
For crust:
Butter a 13x9x2 inch baking dish. In a medium bowl, beat egg whites, cream of tartar and salt until foamy. Beat in 1 3/4 cup of sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, and continue beating until stiff and glossy. DO NOT UNDERBEAT!!! Spread in pan. Bake for 1 hour. Turn off oven; LEAVE Meringue IN OVEN with door closed for 12 hours or longer.
For filling:
In chilled bowl, beat whipping cream until stiff. Blend cream cheese, sugar and vanilla in another bowl. Gently fold whipped cream and marshmallows into the cream cheese mixture; spread over meringue. Chill 12-24 hours. (or you can chill in a bowl while you wait on crust and put the topping in the crust the next day when your crust is done.) Cut into serving size pieces and top with cherry-berry topping. Makes 12 servings.
Cherry Pie Filling
Recipe courtesy of Me: Queen Mother
- 1 (16 oz) package of frozen sour cherries or fresh cherries, pitted
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/3 cup cornstarch + 1 Tablespoon
- 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 cup cold water
Mix cornstarch in the cold water and put in a pot on the stove, mix in the sugar and bring to a bowl, stirring until it thickens. Add in the cinnamon, lemon juice and cherries. You can add in 6 drops of red food coloring if you want it to be the redder color of canned filling or if you like it more natural, omit this step. Stir till it thickens and can or refrigerate. This filling can be canned for a long shelf life!
Apple Glazed Turkey
Recipe courtesy of Me: Queen Mother
Steep 3 apple tea bags in four cups of water
1 teaspoon sage
4 cloves garlic, pressed
salt & fresh ground pepper to taste
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
2 Tablespoons cornstarch + 1 tablespoon cold water
leeks or onions
granny smith apple diced up
After you have steeped the tea, pour into a pot, mix your cornstarch and water together and add into pot, add sage, garlic, salt and pepper and boil until it thickens up a little.
I used Turkey fillets as whole turkeys cannot be found. I placed the fillets in a pan, sprinkled a little crushed red pepper on top, put leeks and chopped apples around then pour the liquid on top. Throughout baking you will use a basting brush to baste the top of the fillets with the liquid.
Happy Turkey Day!!!! Pictures may follow later :)
Queen Mother
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