TUESDAY TAKEAWAY Friday's NOT Too Late

Having enjoyed sitting at Joyce Meyer's feet earlier today...I needed more of God's input after I got home.  So, I spent some time over at Elaine's...PEACE FOR THE JOURNEY...and God answered.

“David also said to Solomon his son, ‘Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished. The divisions of the priests and Levites are ready for all the work on the temple of God, and every willing man skilled in any craft will help you in all the work. The officials and all the people will obey your every command.’” 
(1 Chronicles 28:20-21).

Elaine was sharing the above scripture...and she asked some questions for herself...now I am asking myself.  
Her exerpt:

What’s my take-away? How can this be applied to my heart in my today when it’s obvious that these verses were meant for those who would build the temple of the Lord nearly 3000 years ago? Here are a few thoughts I’m thinking:

• God is still building his temple, and he’s using my life, alongside the lives of other believers, as his building blocks.

• There is work to be done. I have been assigned as a co-laborer in that work.

• The work will require my strength, my courage, and my faith in the face of fear.

• God is with me in my work. He will not fail me nor forsake me.

• The work will be completed.

• There are others who are ready to help me in my work—others with the necessary tools, craftsmanship, and commissioning from God to bring about a completed work through me… in me.

My discussion with Him:


God, You were busy building Your temple in our session today.  


You were reminding us of the responsibilities we have as Christians to stand up..be bold for our faith...in this environment of "leaving You out".

Lord, you've given me "special" God-given talents to be used in Your 'Heavenly' temple's completion.  Forgive me when I've not used them as You've desired.

I've let myself become more weary...finding excuses...You already knew what I needed to say. 

More time listening and obeying is what wanting me to do in this latest building phase.

Even though I moan my strength is less, You will provide a way in  my obedience.


You want to give me the BEST...You loves me, You know  me, and You understand EVERYTHING in me.

Why would I want to hinder Your 'steadily completing' each step as it rises toward You and God?

You will re-visit my lessons until my final transformation; and in my obedience of sitting with You, hearing You and then doing Your will, Your Living Word (You) jump off the page and into reality from my hands and in my heart.

Make radiant each temple is IN each of us, daily

As our Master Carpenter, continue leading us to complete our daily 'to-do' lists for Your Heavenly temple, for we are abiding in this foreign land.

Jer. 33:3 "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." 

Blessings,

MENU-PLAN MONDAY

MONDAY: CROCKPOT CURRY/AMARETTO CHICKEN

Ingredients

· 4 to 6 chicken breasts, boneless, skinless·

 1/2 cup flour

· 1 teaspoon Madras curry powder

· 1 teaspoon garlic powder

· 1/4 teaspoon salt

· 1/4 teaspoon pepper

· 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

· 1 can cream of mushroom soup

· 1 can or jar mushrooms (4 ounces or more - or use fresh)

· 1/4 cup amaretto

· 1 teaspoon Gravymaster or Kitchen Bouquet

· 2 tablespoons lemon juiceInstructions

1. Mix flour, curry powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a plastic or paper bag. 

 2. Add chicken breasts (rinsed and patted dry) and toss to coat. Brown quickly in hot vegetable oil over medium high heat. Transfer to slow cooker. 

 3. Mix remaining ingredients and spoon over chicken. Cover and cook 

TUESDAY:   Ended up making "Spaghetti Squash Lasagna"

separating spaghetti squash from shell (after microwaving for 10 mins on high, with multiple holes in top of squash/sitting in a bowl)

After draining spaghetti squash, layer it the same as lasagna...placing in the casserole dish with 16 oz tomato sauce, leftover roasted-chopped chicken (2 breasts), 3/4c ricotta-1 egg w/ italian seasoning to taste mix, topped with 1/2 c mozzarella, bake 350*/30mins


Chicken Tagine     

By: KJones "Apricots, ginger, cinnamon, and cumin give this slow cooked chicken and vegetable dinner a savory and sweet Moroccan flavor." 

INGREDIENTS: 

2 tablespoons olive oil 

8 skinless, boneless chicken thighs, cut 

into 1-inch pieces 

1 eggplant, cut into 1 inch cubes 

2 large onions, thinly sliced 

4 large carrots, thinly sliced 

1/2 cup dried cranberries 

1/2 cup chopped dried apricots 

2 cups chicken broth 

2 tablespoons tomato paste 

2 tablespoons lemon juice 

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 

2 teaspoons garlic salt 

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin 

1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger 

1 teaspoon cinnamon 

3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 

1 cup water 

1 cup couscous

DIRECTIONS: 

1. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Place the chicken pieces and eggplant in the heated oil; stir and cook until the chicken is browned on all sides but not cooked through. Remove the skillet from the heat. 

2. Place the browned chicken and eggplant on the bottom of a slow cooker. Layer the onion, carrots, dried cranberries, and apricots over the chicken. 

3. Whisk together the chicken broth, tomato paste, lemon juice, flour, garlic salt, cumin, ginger, cinnamon, and ground black pepper in a bowl. Pour the broth mixture into the slow cooker with the chicken and vegetables. 

4. Cook on High setting for 5 hours, or on Low setting for 8 hours. 

5. Bring water to boil in a saucepan. Stir in couscous, and remove from heat. Cover, and let stand about 5 minutes, until liquid has been absorbed. Fluff with a fork. 

WEDNESDAY:     White Chile (8-10 svgs)

6 c. chicken broth1 lb.
Great Northern beans (Clean and soak overnight, or use canned)
1 sm chopped onion
1 clove minced garlic
7 oz. diced green chiles
2 tsp. cumin
2 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. cayenne1 tsp white pepperSalt, to taste4 c. chicken, dicedFlour tortillas
Combine all ingredients except tortillas.

For canned beans, simmer approx 1 to 1 ½ hours. For dried, throw it all in a slow cooker and simmer all day. (best when cooked all day—flavors “meld”)
Put a flour tortilla in the bottom of a bowl and kind of cone-shape it so it follows the shape of the bowl. Fill with the white chile and then serve with desired garnishes. Easily adapted for a bigger crowd.

garnishes: shredded cheese (jack/cheddar), chopped green onions, chopped olives, chopped avocados, chopped tomatoes. 

THURSDAY:  Pork Roast with Hard Cider Gravy Recipe courtesy Claire Robinson

Ingredients: 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus 1 tablespoon cold2 1/2 pound pork loin roast, trimmed and tiedKosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper 1 onion, peeled and sliced2 Granny Smith apples, cored and sliced 1 bottle, (12 oz) hard cider

DirectionsPreheat oven to 375 degrees F.Heat a large Dutch oven over medium heat. When the pan is hot, add 2 tablespoons of butter. Season the pork generously with salt and pepper, to taste, and sear on all sides in the hot pan until golden brown; set aside.

Add the onions and apples and season again with salt and pepper. Cook until they begin to caramelize, then pour in the hard cider and scrape the brown bits off the bottom of the pan. Bring to a simmer and nestle the browned pork roast back into the pan.

Cover with a lid and put in the oven to braise until the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer, 25 to 30 minutes.

Remove the pork roast from the pot and transfer to a carving board; tent with foil to keep warm. Transfer the contents of the pot to a food processor or blender and puree, then return the puree to the pan. Bring to a boil, season with salt and pepper, to taste, then reduce the heat to low and add more cider if gravy is too thick. Add the remaining tablespoon of cold butter, whisking constantly as it melts. Remove from heat when the gravy is smooth and shiny and the butter is completely melted.

FRIDAY:   Tilapia Pitas 

 INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup mayonnaise 

1/4 cup Italian salad dressing 

1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese 

2 anchovy fillets, drained

1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste 

1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper, or to taste

1 pinch salt 

3 tablespoons olive oil 

1 pound tilapia fillets 

1/4 teaspoon lemon pepper 

salt and cayenne pepper to taste 

4 cups iceberg lettuce, torn into bite-sized pieces 

1 small red onion, chopped 

6 pita breads, cut in half

DIRECTIONS: 1. In a small bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, Italian dressing, feta cheese and anchovies. Season with cayenne pepper, black pepper and salt. Mix until well blended, then set aside. 2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Place the tilapia fillets in the skillet, and season with lemon pepper, salt and cayenne. Fry until browned on each side, and fish flakes easily with a fork, 5 to 7 minutes. 3. Warm pita breads in the toaster or in the microwave to soften. Open from the cut side to make pockets. Fill pita bread halves with lettuce, onion, and tilapia fillets, then spoon in some of the feta cheese sauce. Serve and enjoy!

WHERE I’M FROM...

JOINING KAT...Having used Kat's template, my answers are in the underlined:

I am from a family who came over from_Martin Luther's stomping ground and Martin used to "tack proclamations on doors", you know? (in Germany)

I am from the _sweetest tomatoes, and the creamiest corn___ .

I’m from the Deep South, where chicken is fried, not baked and mosquitoes are NOT our friends.

I am from the uncles fighting over Great Granny's peanut cake and _pan-fried apple pies.

I am from gathering with my mother's four brothers and one sister, from hearing Great Granny whispering her prayers as she cooked and _listening to Papa's old duet album of Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty.

I am from hot, sticky mornings at the fan-cooled Methodist church after we ran out of baby powder. 

From hearing funny remembrances from all my aunts and uncles about their time_ growing up together.

From the time Nana and Aunt Jackie high-jacked Papa's Model T, bumping down through the pasture, not being able to reach the brakes and running into the watering pond.

And from the time Nana at the age of six stood in front of the house fire warming herself after bath and her nightgown caught fire, Papa through a quilt over her to put out the flames_ and suffered from that 'badly burned finger' the rest of his life. 

I'm from locking away every memory my Great Granny and family have shared with me; in my heart where they are forever safe.

Jer. 33:3   "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."        

Blessings,

FAREWELL FRIDAY...saying 'see you later' to my Uncle

Dear Lord,

Please hear our prayers for your wrapping around our family as we grieve.  Words don't seem appropriate enough to express our hearts.

Welcome my Uncle Jerry with open arms and I especially ask your tender care for my Aunt Barbra as she is engulfed with her husband's loss.

His smile was wide, his love for his twin brother and the other five siblings was evident. In order from left to right, my Uncle Terry, Jerry's twin brother...then Uncle James, my Mother Betty, Aunt Jackie and Uncle Willis.

Thank you for his showing us 'I can' throughout his many paraplegic years...

he still fished, bowled, and greatly enjoyed retirement from 30-years of repairing watches and jewelry sales...

he taught me about enjoying life with an affliction; especially when he gave me a ride in his lap or hanging off the back of his chair!

I will always love you, Uncle Jerry.

Blessings,

Jer. 33:3 "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." 

HODGEPODGE WEDNESDAY...

Joining Joyce and all the others...

1. What do you do at the first sign of a cold? Will you get a flu shot this year?

Take a teaspoon of 'manuka' raw honey; a natural antibiotic, then drink a cup of echinacea tea, and the next morning if no improvement, than I start Zicam.  

I probably WILL get a shot within the next couple of weeks.

2. What advice can you give about how to conquer fear?

Breathe while praying the names of Christ; 

lifting up his Word 

(evil flees at the sound, and fear is NOT from the Lord)

3. Share two good things about your life right now.

Enjoying watching our past youth grasping their adulthood with Christ as their pilot; He is doing amazing things through their service and lives.

Facilitating a Bible study always challenges me 

to press on for His Glory.  

Enveloped in post-surgical menopausal issues, 

too many to list, 

yet He gives me love and encouragement 

to remember His sacrifice to lessen my moanings

...He's so creative!

4. A hot fall fashion trend in 2011 is a return to sixties style...tunics with pants, shift dresses, pencil skirts, cinched waists, bold prints, high necklines and short lengths to name a few. How does this fashion trend fit with your wardrobe and personal sense of style?

Shift dresses...yay!   

High necklines: not a chance in this body of mine, 

not even a necklace goes around this HOT neck these days.

5. Were you involved in scouting as a kid? How about as an adult?

As a kid, I was a Brownie for a year.  

Our leaders changed the next year and I wasn't involved then.  

As an adult, I chaperoned girl scout outings 

(to camp and in-town functions) for my daughter's troop. 

  

6. Apple, pear, plum, pumpkin...your favorite fall flavor?

What hard choices...

plums (make my tongue the happiest) 

and pumpkin makes my body happier, with its anti-oxidants.

7. What characteristics do you think are essential in a good teacher?

Finding positive ways to deal with negativity; 

encouragement of strengths to dim the weaknesses; 

and hugs...yep, hugs.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

When our air conditioner STOPPED working this past weekend, 

God provided a QUICK FIX--

someone cancelled their previous appointment.

A bonus:  the broken part was under warranty

I didn't have to pay them for the visit or the part! 

YIPPEE!

Blessings,

SATURDAY CENTUS...moose meanderings

Before you start reading this blog, jump over to MOCHA with LINDA, she's having a 5-book giveaway now.


For this week...my two cents' worth of a story which had to be "Up to 100 words+7 word prompt". Here's my story:


Her 'sisterly lodge' lasted longer than previous jaunts with caribou sisters. Where were they when Roselle was stumbling away from the lights back toward our dense wetlands? 

Our calves had woken crying, "mahhh, mahhh!"

Me found Roselle propped up in Farmer Johannsen's green apple tree, the one just inside his dilapidated, standing-open back gate (the one missed during this year's perusal).

Praise be...Roselles' big head caught a branch or'n else she would've knocked me sideways when I rousingly bit her into consciousness. "Good morgnon", "What kinda pizza is this?", she continued mumbling while gingerly peeling her from the fermented fruit's grasp.

the REAL story: A seemingly- intoxicated moose is discovered entangled in an apple tree by a stunned Swede in Goteborg, Sweden late Tuesday Sept. 6 2011. ... a female moose kicking about in the tree...likely drunk from eating fermented apples. (AP Photo/Per Johansson) SWEDEN OUT

 Blessings,

THANKFUL THURSDAYS...'cause pitchforks were flyin'..revised

JOINING THANKFUL THURSDAY...

Have you ever had a little devil flitting throughout your day?

Little meanies whirring around your head?


...my migraine was pounding...making my typing class notes an even bigger job.  


Devil-like Thing 1/Thing2 averting us away from 'details'?   
I left out two members of my class as I typed.  
POOH to those little problem makers!

His little pitchfork continued prodding on class day, eyes aching from only 4  hours of sleep.  
His idea of sneaking 'just one coffee' at dinner.  

Mr. Hot, himself, visiting the classroom, 'heating it' to abnormally warm for the end of Summer.
...pushed us into propping a window for a little of the day's cool-rain breezes.  


Angel classmates supporting attitudes even though the 'prop' fell from the window 'slamming' the window shut...(jolting us all out of our seats).  
He's NEVER going to give up poking...

Struggling to smile.  Asking for His (The Big Guy's) help in moving on instead of lamenting devilish occurrences...
(mindful:  some of God's answers are in HIS time)

Ignoring the little red guy's input, praying he leaves our space, then loading the DVD reviewing an expert's 4-Gospel theology. 

Loading it was SUCCESSFUL; viewing it was IMPOSSIBLE.
No matter what button was being pushed, no matter who was pushing the buttons.  No luck.

Interrupting the class again, then walking the long hallway to the 'building staff'...
finding out thunderstorms jolted all electronics; rebooting was in order.  
I KNEW who I wanted to REBOOT!  hahahah :\

Successfully reaching the finish line for the day, we shared wishes for a better NEXT WEEK.  

However, I must STOP.


Take notice of suffering, our suffering.


What was I learning as he was prodding?


NEVER waste suffering:

• no caffeine after 5pm
• full night's sleep: crucial b4 a 'study' class 
• double-check sign-up sheets
• use steadier props than styrofoam cups for windows 
• ALWAYS double check electronics b4 class 
• keep custodians' pager numbers
• wear comfortable shoes for looooooong walks
• KEEP backup batteries
• God's Power...more reliable than any other...reachable on a prayer's breath...responds without walking down long hallways!

Ephesians 6:10 
"So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials, put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way." 

FIVE SENSES FRIDAY…”since it’s Friday”, hahah!

Five Senses Friday, usually at a lovely blog - Abby Try Again... find her blog HERE...

SEEING: A couple of weeks back we moved BabyGirl into her college apartment to begin her sophomore year….excitedly, she made wall art to decorate the shared living room…see the bird silhouettes…scrapbook sheets, free-hand tree limbs and black Sharpe's did the trick and slathered with Modge Podge

SMELLING:   left—over coffee continuing to cool in my coffee cup.

TASTING:    Newtons Fruit Thins (fig and honey)…2 gr/fiber, very yummy

FEELING:  a little anxious if my BabyGirl decides to drive to Mississippi this weekend to visit friends…tropical depression #13’s brewing its way toward Louisiana…expected to turn hard right and head that way Sunday/Monday…don’t like the idea of her being on potentially flooding roads.

HEARING:   the whir of my portable fan compete with the newscasters as they describe events and then Giada as she whips up fluffy meringues in her blender on Food Network.

Play along if you like…leave me your answers or link.

Have a wonderful Holiday weekend!

WHAT ARE YOU SEEING, SMELLING, TASTING, FEELING AND HEARING TODAY?

SNEAKY MOMS UNITE…

JOINING THE MOMMY JOURNEY  

(CLICK ON MOMMY MOMENTS)

DO IDEAS SNEAK UP ON YOU?

sometimes they sneak up on me…

sometimes I like being THE SNEAKY one.

I SNEAK 3-4 of the ‘carry packs’ of BENEFIBER into iced tea that I make and put in the refrigerator; we are at that age of NEEDING lots of fiber.


I SNEAK ‘whole-wheat/9grain’ bread croutons into the meatloaf (continuing to enhance our fiber intake).

I SNEAK ‘almond milk’ or ‘soy milk’ into many of the recipes I make (just to cut down on the animal fat we ingest).

I SNEAK many leftovers into soups, casseroles or cold salads (because my mom and granny taught me NEVER to waste meat or vegetables).

HOW and WHEN have you been SNEAKY lately?