Cooking Up Some Christmas Creations in the Kitchen!

Merry Christmas blogger world! Today was a quiet Christmas for me and my dearest. It was just the two of us, but do not let that make you think we didn't pull out the stops for a great meal!

Last night the preparations began. I figured that some of that silverware that is tarnished and hardly ever used should be broken out, polished and used! So I broke out the Reed & Barton Tara and went to work polishing it.

This morning began with the opening of gifts. My husband received 14 books (pictured right) along with some other items, but books are definitely his favorite and his joy was overflowing. I received a toaster convection oven along with books. **Please note that if anyone has bookshelves they want to give away...we are ALWAYS in need! :-)



After opening gifts, I started on Operation Christmas Dinner

Menu:
Orange Walnut Salad with Sweet and Sour dressing
Roast with carrots and onions
Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
Roasted Asparagus with Parmesan Cheese
Sauteed Mushrooms for the husband!
Caramel Chocolate Pie

The pie was the most intensive part of the meal and required refrigeration between steps, so I thought I should start on that first. The crust was made out of pecan toffee cookies. Well, my first crust was a big FAIL! Ok, so I didn't notice that fine print that instructed me to omit sugar and cut the butter in half if I was using cookies instead of graham cracker crumbs. I noticed immediately that the crust did not seem to have the right texture, but I thought I would put it in the oven to see what happened. Well, it definitely was not going to work. Thankfully, I had purchased extra pecan toffee cookies, so I quickly ground up some more and started again. The second time was a charm, but the first failure was a nerve racking way to begin the Christmas cooking! Crust done and cooling.


Now onto the roast. I seared the beef in a little olive oil and set it aside, Then I added chopped leeks, garlic cloves, and pearl onions to the pan, sauteed them a little, put the beef back in added some celery, carrots, a bay leaf, onion soup mix, red wine and beef broth (not quite enough liquid to cover), put on the lid and stuck it in the oven. I planned to cook it for 2.5 hours basting the beef every thirty minutes.



Now onto the second step of my pie...melted caramels. I melted 30 caramels with 2 tbsp of butter and 2 tbsp of water then poured them into the crust and sprinkled them with 1/2 c of chopped pecans. I put into the refrigerator to chill for 1 hour. At this point, I took a break, cleaned the kitchen and relaxed a little while putting my husband on basting duty!



After an hour had past, it was time for the second layer of pie--cream cheese whipped with 1/3 c of powdered sugar. After it became creamy I spread it on top of the caramel/pecan layer, and back into the frige it went.



At this point it was about time to start concerning myself with other aspects of the meal. First point of business, get the husband involved by peeling potatoes. Meanwhile I started making the sweet and sour dressing and sautéing  the walnuts for the salad. The dressing was fairly simple: Combine 1/2 vegetable oil (I used 1/2 c olive oil instead), 1/4c white vinegar, 1/4c sugar (or less), 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp dry mustard,  1/2 tsp paprika, 1/2 tsp grated onion. Blend until smooth. Then add 1/2 tsp celery seed. Walnuts were sauteed in 2 tsp of butter on the stove. After they were done, they were set aside to cool.

Back to the pie. I started melting 4 oz of semi-sweet chocolate on the stove with 3 tbsp of hot water. Stirring constantly until it  was completely melted. After melted, I set it aside and allowed it to cool to room temp. When cooled I added 1/2 tsp vanilla and stirred. I also had to start whipping the cream for the pie. While the chocolate was cooling, I poured 2 cups of heavy cream in a bowl and started whipping. I added 1/3 c powdered sugar to the cream in the process. Once my cream was fairly stiff, I separated 1.5 c of whipped cream out and folded the rest of the cream with the cooled chocolate sauce, pulled the pie back out and spread the chocolate cream layer. The other 1.5 c of whipped cream was spread on top of the chocolate cream, and back into the fridge it went to chill until it was served.



Pie was done, potatoes were peeled, and water was boiling on the stove waiting for the potatoes. They started cooking while I got out the asparagus. I washed it, trimmed the stems, lined a cookie sheet with foil and layered the asparagus on the sheet. I drizzled olive oil on it and rolled the asparagus just enough to ensure all of them had a thin coat of oil. I added a little salt and pepper, took the beef out of the oven, turned it up to 450 and added the asparagus for 10 minutes. Just enough time to throw the spinach and bibb lettuce in the salad spinner. I got the greens in a bowl, added chilled mandarin oranges to the salad along with a little swiss and parmesan cheeses, and the walnuts.

Potatoes were now done and being drained. I put the potatoes in a mixer along with some butter. Meanwhile, I start sautéing the mushrooms in a little butter and beef broth. I also started the gravy. Ahhh...the smells! It was almost time for dinner. I added some cream to the potatoes, continued to stir some of the broth from the roast into the gravy. Meanwhile, my dear husband started filling the dish washer with dirty dishes. Finally, I removed the asparagus from the oven, topped it with some parmesan cheese, tossed the salad with dressing, put the potatoes in a bowl, got it all on the table, poured the wine, and wah-lah....Christmas Dinner 2010 was ready for consumption!  And consumed we did! It was a change from our normal turkey dinner on Christmas, but we loved it!

And of course, we saved the best for last!

Kudos to Betty Crocker for the pie recipe and Southern Living for the Mandarin Walnut Salad! 

Sending Love to Our Service Members in Afghanistan

As I sit here and type it is around 2am Thursday morning in Afghanistan and some soldiers or Marines are pulling a long night keeping watch. They are probably thinking about the upcoming Christmas celebrations, wearing smiles imagining family and friends and eagerly anticipating the notes, photos, and little packages they will be receiving from back home. Perhaps they have pulled out a deck of cards and are passing the time, but you can bet they are all missing their spouses, their children, their parents, and their siblings. Some of them have children they have not yet met, and they will miss their son or daughter's first Christmas. For some of them, this is not the first Christmas they have spent in the dessert answering the call of duty away from the hugs and kisses of the ones they love. They are not in the comfort of their home listening to the sounds of Christmas, inhaling the smell of freshly cut down Christmas trees, watching the joy on the faces of their children as they run and play, and sniffing in the aroma of Christmas dinner in the oven. They are in a dry dessert with other dusty smelly servicemen eating whatever the government issued meal of the day is.  As this Christmas approaches, take the time to pray for, write to, and/or send a package to our troops. They can use all the encouragement we have to offer.  Today, I went to the store to put together some packages to send to Afghanistan.  Below are two boxes I packed. They contain many items our troops are always desiring and needing. Although my packages will not make it in time for Christmas, hopefully, they will be an encouragement as our troops start the new year.   I would encourage you to pack a box to support our troops as they sacrifice for us, and if you have children, be sure to get them involved. What a great way to appreciate our military while instilling in young minds the importance of gratitude and sacrifice this Christmas season.


Merry Christmas troops! We love you, miss you and hope you return home safely soon! 

Just some ideas for care packages to our troops:

peanut butter
pocket sized snack mixes
sunflower seeds/ peanuts/ trail mix
chewing gum
salt/pepper
protrien pouches (tuna, chicken)
energy bars
instant coffee
drink packets for water bottles
hand sanitizer
baby wipes
small portable alarm clocks
batteries
zip-lock bags
Purex 3 in 1 laundry sheets
stick up
shower shoes
travel size toiletries
foot powder
socks
t shirts
dark colored towels
disposable hand/feet warmers
eye drops
playing cards
books/magazines/US newpapers


Do Not Send: Pork products, alcohol, aerosol cans, flammables

To learn how to send packages visit the following websites:

http://www.ustroopcarepackage.com/ 
http://www.opgratitude.com/
http://www.Give2thetroops.org/

To email a service member: http://action.uso.org/action/sem-thank-you-holiday?sc=OM-gadw-p_Support-search_ThankYouEmail

To support our troops in other ways:
http://www.uso.org/

          

It's Not Always Loving to be Nice...

Due to certain personal situations, various cultural happenings and a good dose of thought provoking reading material, I have been busy processing frustrations and meditating on many doctrinal truths lately. We all know they were bound to be revealed at some point, so why not now? 

I begin with citing the Westminster Larger Catechism, something sound Presbyterians hold dear to their hearts. Buried deep inside the WLC are three questions/answers that I think need some revival as we enter 2011.  

Q. 150. Are all transgressions of the law of God equally heinous in themselves, and in the sight of God?
A. All transgressions of the law are not equally heinous; but some sins in themselves, and by reason of several aggravations, are more heinous in the sight of God than others.

Q. 151. What are those aggravations that make some sins more heinous than others?
A. Sins receive their aggravations, 1. From the persons offending; if they be of riper age, greater experience or grace, eminent for profession, gifts, place, office, guides to others, and whose example is likely to be followed by others. 2. From the parties offended: if immediately against God, his attributes, and worship; against Christ, and his grace; the Holy Spirit, his witness, and workings; against superiors, men of eminency, and such as we stand especially related and engaged unto; against any of the saints, particularly weak brethren, the souls of them, or any other, and the common good of all or many. 3. From the nature and quality of the offence: if it be against the express letter of the law, break many commandments, contain in it many sins: if not only conceived in the heart, but breaks forth in words and actions, scandalize others, and admit of no reparation: if against means, mercies, judgments, light of nature, conviction of conscience, public or private admonition, censures of the church, civil punishments; and our prayers, purposes, promises, vows, covenants, and engagements to God or men: if done deliberately, willfully, presumptuously, impudently, boastingly,maliciously, frequently, obstinately, with delight, continuance, or relapsing after repentance. 4. From circumstances of time, and place: if on the Lord's day, or other times of divine worship; or immediately before or after these, or other helps to prevent or remedy such miscarriages: if in public, or in the presence of others, who are thereby likely to be provoked or defiled.

152. What doth every sin deserve at the hands of God?
A. Every sin, even the least, being against the sovereignty, goodness, and holiness of God, and against his righteous law, deserveth his wrath and curse, both in this life, and that which is to come; and cannot be expiated but by the blood of Christ.




In a day when we are constantly bombarded with the lie that all sins are equal, it would do us well to actually consider the biblical teaching. Are all sins equal? Well...yes and no. Do all sins equally deserve the wrath and curse of God? Yes, even what is the tiniest transgression. And are all of us totally depraved? Yes, but let us not confuse total depravity with utter depravity. We are not utterly depraved. Sin has penetrated every facet of our thinking. Every ounce of our being is infected with sin, and even in our attempts to be righteous, without the power of Christ and His resurrection, we are unable to glorify Him in the slightest, yet even in our total depravity God’s common grace restrains us from sinning as greatly as we could sin. Hence, there are those in society that are far from understanding the Gospel, yet they may still hold to morals that are derived directly from God Law.  They are still desperately in need of special grace, that salvific grace found when we repent and cling to Christ-His righteousness, His atoning death and His conquering of death through the resurrection-as our only Hope from sin, but His common grace still keeps them from becoming the worst sinners they could be.  Through God’s common grace, societies are also kept from spiraling down into further depravity. As His common grace is removed, we see more and more immorality and destruction. Romans 1 is the perfect example. God gave them over to sexual impurity, God gave them over to shameful lusts, and God gave them over to a depraved mind. It was a progression. In Ezekiel 8, we continue to see greater and greater abominations, so although all sin is deserving of condemnation, some sins are more heinous and warrant worse judgement. In Matthew 11 we see that Capernaum will suffer greater judgment than Sodom.  We have deceived ourselves into thinking that all sins are equally heinous when the truth is that all sins are equally condemnable. There is a difference. 

The sad reality is that Christians today do not task themselves with reflecting on doctrines like common grace and the degrees of sin.  Our culture continues to tear down hurdles to sin and as a result God’s restraining grace withdraws. When you consider the legalization of abortion, the allowance of no fault divorce, the push for gay rights and same sex marriage, all of these things spiral us down a path to greater depravity. It is Romans 1. And yes, these sins ARE more heinous than the way that that two year old coveted after his brother’s Legos! My biggest question is: where is the Church? Why have we rolled over like fearful cowards and in the name of “love” been so quiet concerning these sins? Granted, there are pro-life organizations fighting diligently against abortion. And may God bless and honor them for fighting for life! However, what about divorce? Sexual perversions? Sodomy?  Why do we find speaking Truth in conflict with loving our neighbor? Why are we attempting to create a false dichotomy? The Scripture is not in conflict with itself. God is not in conflict with Himself.  Like the great heroes of the faith in the past, we should be taking up the task of loving our neighbors by proclaiming Truth to them. The Truth that these sins are abominations before a Just and Holy God. The Truth that God hates and despises sin. The Truth that sin cannot go unpunished. The Truth that Christ took the wrath we so rightly deserved so that we can have forgiveness, grace and freedom from sin. Through Christ we can mortify sin. Through Christ we become new creatures able to glorify and enjoy Him. We need to proclaim Truth clearly. We need to proclaim it boldly. And we need to proclaim it often. Our culture is sinking further and further into a pit of corruption as we sit by like demoralized zombies. The prince of darkness is at work, and he is not lazy about destroying man. He is attempting to crush everyone in his path. We need to stop concerning ourselves with “being nice” and instead concern ourselves with loving our neighbor by defending righteousness and confronting evil. Lying is never loving. We need to shed our sin of apprehension and live in the knowledge that Christ is with the faithful. The Truth has set us free, and we need to let it set others free. What wonders we will see if we unleash the Truth and let God’s Word and Spirit do their work. As we face the new year may this hymn text by Thomas Hughes sink into our hearts, minds and lives.

O God of truth, whose living Word
Upholds whate’er hath breath,
Look down on Thy creation, Lord,
Enslaved by sin and death.

Set up Thy standard, Lord, that we,
Who claim a heavenly birth,
May march with Thee to smite the lies
That vex Thy groaning earth.

Ah! would we join that blest array,
And follow in the might
Of Him, the Faithful and the True,
In raiment clean and white!

We fight for truth, we fight for God,
Poor slaves of lies and sin!
He who would fight for Thee on earth
Must first be true within.

Then, God of truth, for Whom we long,
Thou Who wilt hear our prayer,
Do Thine own battle in our hearts,
And slay the falsehood there.

God's Truth Abideth Still--493 years after Luther did his deed!

This week I planned to make a quick trip to Barnes and Noble to get a new edition of J. I. Packer's book Knowing God (my copy was very old with tiny print). While quickly surveying the shelves to complete my mission, my eyes landed on Nancy Pearcey's new book Saving Leonardo: A Call to Resist the Secular Assault on Minds, Morals, and Meaning. A two second glance through her book made me break focus from the mission, and I decided I just had to have it.  A few moments later I found yet another book I also "needed." All that to say, I walked out of B and N with three books. Obviously, I need a better dose of self control. For an impulse buy, I must say I did well! Pearcey's book is amazing! It is proving a very timely book to be reading as Reformation Sunday approaches.  It is on October 31st as the rest of the world prepares for Halloween, costumes and candy,  that I bring to mind Luther's nailing of the 95 theses to the door of the Wittenberg Cathedral launching the Protestant Reformation. My mind  can't help but consider the Reformers and their willingness to sacrifice all for the sake of the Gospel. As I ponder this great event in history, I end up marveling at God's very active and gracious hand in the affairs of His world, and it strikes me just how desperately the American Church needs some Reformers. We have gulped down the lies of our postmodern culture and have often relegated the Christian worldview to just another option on the smorgasbord of worldviews. We somehow act as though it's ok for me to believe one thing, you to believe another, and Joe in Timbukto to believe yet another. We frequently just shrug off belief differences with the all time greatest postmodern term of all: "Whatever..."  However, God's Word is not just an option. It is Truth. All options aren't equally valid as our postmodern world would have us believe. The Reformers knew this, and they sought to proclaim the Truth loudly and fearlessly in order to trample out the lies that were pervading their culture. Many were burned at the stake because they chose to take a stand for Truth.  J. Gresham Machen once wrote, "False ideas are the greatest obstacle to the reception of the Gospel." All to often I fail to use Truth to reveal the  false ideas in me and in the world around me. At times it is because I don't want to offend someone, but often it is just because I have forgotten the war between Truth and lies, Life and death, Light and darkness. I Peter 5:8 says, "Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." I am warned to be vigilant, yet often I just skip through life as happy as can be unaware (and perhaps even at times willfully ignorant) of the danger of false ideas. As Reformation Sunday approaches, may we revive our allegiance to that Truth for which the Reformers willingly laid down their lives.  May we look to Scripture alone as our guide. May we remind ourselves that "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Tim. 3:16-17) It is through the study of Scripture that God, in His grace, revealed to Martin Luther the Truth of the Gospel and as a result Luther embraced justification by faith alone in Christ alone.  May we, 493 years later, cling to the same Savior that opened the eyes of Luther. May we, just as Luther, Knox, Calvin, Hus, Zwingli, Cranmer and other Reformers did, proclaim the Gospel of grace to a sinful, twisted and broken world. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, The just shall live be faith." (Romans 1:16-17) "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death." (Romans 8:1-2)


When I think of God existing outside of time and space, I often think of Him hearing His church in unison singing hymns, Psalms and reciting creeds. How exciting it is to imagine my singing along with Luther's and J. S. Bach's reaching the Father's ear in diverse langauges yet in perfect unison as we sing this great Reformed hymn. I hope you get to sing it along with us tomorrow. Soli Deo Gloria!

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.

A Little Slurp of Heaven

It's obvious by now that I blog infrequently, but occasionally a moment comes along that is just too good to not put into a blog. A few weeks ago, those free NASCAR tickets that my husband won should have qualified for a blog entry, but honestly, one thing after another happened, and the window of opportunity passed. Well, I don't want today's little experience to get away from me since it involves one of my favorite senses: taste! Today I was at the farmer's market. Now, I rarely go to farmer's markets. I'm sure some places have wonderfully clean, pristine looking farmer's markets, but where I am...well, there's much to be desired. The place sometimes carries with it a stench from the huge garbage bins in the back of the lot, the canvases nailed up blocking the blazing sun are all drab and run down, but the veggies and fruits are fresh and inexpensive, so I think it's worth it.  Besides, there's something I rather enjoy about purchasing produce from people in the same city. It's nice to directly support those in my very own community.  I was there waiting for a friend that was running late. I had already perused many of the stands when I turned a corner and the normal stench disappeared. I found myself surrounded with a very familiar scent.  It was the smell of boiled peanuts--even better CAJUN boiled peanuts! Oh is was heavenly! It made me want to burst into that good ole Civil War song, "Peas, Peas, Peas, Peas, Eatin' goober peas! Goodness, how delicious! Eatin' goober peas!" All of a sudden the wait for my friend turned into a big goober pea fest. I purchased myself a $3 bag of cajun boiled peanuts, sat down next to a trash can and had a noonday snack. The great thing about boiled peanuts is sucking all the juice out of the shell. I know it sounds thoroughly disgusting, but trust me it's very addicting. I'm sure I looked quite ridiculous sitting there with cajun juice running all down my hands as I slurped in some heaven and then gobbled up all those soggy peanuts, but I didn't care. It's as if I had been transported to heaven itself right there in the middle of that dingy little farmer's market. I didn't finish my bag. I could have, but I would have been sick! Instead I picked up my bag, walked into a little sandwich shop right there at the market and ordered a coke. In case you've never had goober peas, they are very salty and before long you have to have something to drink to wash down all that salty cajun juice. Before long my friend had arrived. She didn't understand my obsession with boiled peanuts. People usually don't unless they've been immersed in Southern culture. If you're ever in the South, be sure to try out some Goober Peas. You may find them quite tasty! They are indeed a little slurp of heaven! And while you're at it, sing this little song to yourself! :-)

Verse 1

Sitting by the roadside on a summer's day

Chatting with my mess-mates, passing time away

Lying in the shadows underneath the trees

Goodness, how delicious, eating goober peas.

Chorus2x

Peas, peas, peas, peas

Eating goober peas

Goodness, how delicious,

Eating goober peas.

Verse 2

When a horse-man passes, the soldiers have a rule

To cry out their loudest, "Mister, here's your mule!"

But another custom, enchanting-er than these

Is wearing out your grinders, eating goober peas.

Chorus

Verse 3

Just before the battle, the General hears a row

He says "The Yanks are coming, I hear their rifles now."

He turns around in wonder, and what d'ya think he sees?

The Tennessee Militia, eating goober peas.

Chorus

Verse 4

I think my song has lasted almost long enough.

The subject's interesting, but the rhymes are mighty tough.

I wish the war was over, so free from rags and fleas

We'd kiss our wives and sweethearts, and gobble goober peas.

Chicken Pot Pie Fanatic

When I lived in Atlanta there was this great little restaurant, the OK Cafe. There was nothing "OK" about it...it was far beyond "OK!" I think our friends regretted ever introducing us to the place, because I truly could have eaten there multiple times a week.  They began to roll their eyes when OK Cafe was ALWAYS suggested as the place to eat. Anyhow, it was one of those places where "macaroni" was considered a vegetable (like it should be). They had collard greens, squash souffle, triple cheese macaroni, black-eyed peas, and they even had pot likker! I'm telling you, it was heaven on earth to anyone raised in the South. My favorite thing, however, was their chicken pot pie. Oh my! That chicken pot pie was to die for. It was served with a flaky pastry topping with "OK" stamped on it. Just thinking about it makes my taste buds water. After we moved to Jacksonville,  I was always on the lookout for a good chicken pot pie like OK Cafe's. When I would land at a restaurant that served it, I would try it so expectantly, only to be let down again and again. Why oh why must people ruin my favorite comfort food with some special herb???? I just want plain chicken pot pie! You know, the kind with a creamy sauce filled with chicken, peas, carrots, and potatoes. I don't want rosemary or some other flavor tainting it. Don't get me wrong, I love rosemary, just not in the chicken pot pie. Well, last week I went to lunch with a friend and there it was, perfectly creamy, unadulterated chicken pot pie! I was so excited. As I finished up lunch I realized that the lunch portion really didn't cut it. My friend and I left, devised a scheme and called our husbands later that afternoon with the ever so tempting, "Hey honey, you want to meet me at such and such for supper tonight?" Yep, you guessed it. We went again for supper, and I had the full portion of chicken pot pie. I didn't even feel ashamed that our lunch waiter was still there and laughing at us. Now you may think that chicken pot pie twice in one day would sufficiently cure my longing, but today the craving resurfaced out of nowhere. I began to wonder...how hard could chicken pot pie really be to make? After a quick little computer search I had what seemed to be a yummy looking pot pie recipe, and tonight, we sat down and ate homemade chicken pot pie for the first time, and I'm excited to say that it was actually good. Wish you could have been here to join us. One more meal for the meal menus!

Joy and Sorrow

Well, I obviously earn a big failing grade when it comes to blogging. It's May and the wall (if that's what you call it) of my blog has been dormant for a good 3-4 months. Pitiful. Very, very pitiful!

Today, I have no meals or purchases to blog about, but this week has been packed full of events that have pointed me over and over to the realest of realities. Here it is Saturday night, and I sit exhausted and worn out. I haven't even had time to tidy my house or have a real conversation with my husband. My week started on its course Sunday night. My husband and I were at a friend's house as they excitedly announced to us that they were expecting a baby. It was all smiles and joy when my husband and I got a call informing us an elder at my church had had a heart attack. Providentially, they got his heart started, and he now has a pacemaker; however, it did put an immediate damper on the joy we were sharing with these friends about their new baby. Monday, my friend Joyce passed away after a long battle with cancer. Tuesday, I was running around decorating for a baby shower I was hosting for a friend who was 4-5 weeks out from her due date. Wednesday, that friend had her baby early. Thankfully, mother and child are healthy. Thursday, I actually had a normal day. Friday was Joyce's funeral, and right before leaving for her funeral, I was informed that some other friends lost their baby. The week was filled with all kinds of emotional highs and lows, and when the roller coaster ride takes so many turns within a short week, it's a little exhausting. I'll have to say, the week didn't seem short at all. In fact, it seems like Tuesday's baby shower happened weeks ago. Today, I just sat, relaxed and took joy knowing that I belong to a God that is sovereign over all things. I pondered just how comforting the power of the Resurrection is. I kept coming back to a quote by Jonathan Edwards, "Grace is but glory begun, and glory is but grace perfected." How great to know that the deterioration of this broken body is not the end of me, and the liveliness of this body is not the life of me. Jesus Christ is the Resurrection and the Life. (John 11:25-26) He is the Way. He is the Truth. (John 14:6) And He is my Life. As I walk with Him through this world filled with disappointments and sorrows I already get to see glimpses of glory. Seeing the Gospel transform hardened sinners, seeing the joyful faith of the Joyces in this world as they stand firm in the Truth of the Gospel while facing physical death, or seeing Christ's grace sustain friends that have just lost a child--all these things point to the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. One day, I will no longer see those glimpses dimly as through a glass, but I will see grace perfected. I will see Him in all His glory. My sight won't be tainted by sin. I'm so happy glory isn't just something way in the future though. It delights me that the new creation broke into the old at Easter, and as the Gospel Truth is spread and embraced, more and more people become "new creations." (2 Corinthians 5:17) As His child, I am a new creation. I am alive in Him, and that Life can never be taken from me. The "new" is now and is not yet as the old nature still constantly tugs at my heels, and sin and brokenness continue all around me, but it will not always be so. At Christ's return, how triumphantly we will be able to sing the words of that familiar carol, Joy to the World: "No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow far as the curse is found." Far as the curse is found--have you thought about how far that is? What a complete make over! He will redeem all his creation. The creation will no longer groan and moan. (Romans 8:18-23) There will be no more pain, no more death, no more tears. (Revelation. 21:3-5) That will be a glorious day indeed! Even now though as I get wrapped up in the wonder of that day how easily I forget that it's already started! I can taste and see how good and gracious God is even now in this fragmented world. (Psalm 34:8) I don't have to be apathetic, discouraged or overwhelmed. May I live in the reality that glory has begun, and may I long for the day that glory is complete. May I remember that the God of the universe loves me, a sinner, redeemed me, and continues to work in and through me, and not only me, but He is actively involved in all the inner workings of all His creation, sustaining creation with the very power of His Word. (Hebrews 1:3) Not a hair can fall from my head or yours without Him knowing. (Luke 12: 7) What an immanent and transcendent God! To know Him is to really live, for in Him is Life itself.

Thursday Find

Today, I found this quaint little cherry desk for $80. Yes, it has a few nicks and scratches, but it meets all my requirements: solid wood, small, simple. It may actually inspire me to write a few notes or read a little more, both of which I should do.

Scrumptious Sweet and Sour

Sometimes I like to stroll through grocery stores looking at various items I've never before purchased and imagine what my limited cooking skills could make with such a product. Well, a couple weeks ago as I was leisurely meandering my way through the Asian isle, I noticed bottles of sweet and sour sauce. I started reflecting on all the restaurants that have delicious sweet and sour, and then the discouraging thought occurred to me that my sweet and sour will never taste like theirs. Disappointed, I wandered around a while longer, when a good 20 minutes later I found myself staring at those tempting little sweet and sour sauces again. Staring turned into picking up the bottles and reading the ingredients ( I've never really thought about what's in sweet and sour sauce before), and then I noticed right there on the back of the bottle was a handy sweet and sour recipe. I read the recipe and realized I was capable! I could actually make this recipe. It really wasn't difficult at all. The stroll quickly turned into a brisk paced mission as I hunted down everything else I would need to complete my Sweet and Sour Chicken. I am pleased to announce that tonight I made Sweet and Sour Chicken for the first time ever. I served it with fried rice and a small salad. It successfully met the hunger pangs and taste demands of my husband. One more meal to add the meal menus! It was scrumptious and really quite simple!

Puzzle Pleasure

Last week while I was suffering through that wretched cold I decided I had to do something other than vegetate in bed or watch tv or just sip tea, so I determined to complete my New Years puzzle. I started it the first week of 2010, but for the past couple weeks it has been sitting uncompleted, cluttering up my house and begging for some attention. What a great activity for when I'm afflicted with a bug! I love 1000 piece puzzles. There's something fulfilling about knowing that I have touched and positioned 1000 individual puzzle pieces. The other thing I cherish about this puzzle is the Jonathan Green image. I admit, I'm a little obsessed with Jonathan Green's art. It is bright, colorful, cheerful and oh so Southern! Doesn't it just make you want to break out into Gullah?

Of course you want to break out into Gullah! So here you go:

De Lawd, 'E duh my sheppud. Uh een gwoi' want. 'E meck me fuh lay down een dem green passuh. 'E Khah me deh side dah stagnant wahtuh. 'E sto' muh soul; 'E lead me een de pat' ob right-juss-niss fuh 'E name sake. Aae doh Ie wark shru' de whalley ob dem grayb yaad Ie een gwoi' skayed uh dem dead people, fuh Ie know de Lawd, 'E duh deh wid me; 'E stick wha' 'E khah een 'E han' 'n de staff een de udduh han' gwoi' cumpit me' 'E fix up uh table fuh me fuh grease muh mout' 'n muh enemies een gwoi' git none. 'E 'noint muh head wid uhl. Muh cup obbuh flo.' Sho' nuff all 'E goodnes,' 'n 'E muhcy gwoi' be wid me all de day ob muh life 'n Ie gwoi' lib deh een de house ob de Lawd fuh ebbuh 'n ebbuh. Amen

If that's a little much, you can just listen to some Gullah:

http://www.gullahtours.com/psalm23.mp3

Enjoy!

And the Suds Go Marching On

Perhaps it was socializing over lunch or cleaning the vacuum filter or boasting over germ termination yesterday, but whatever it was, that wicked cold decided to worsen overnight. It's as if the germs knew I declared war on them, and they decided to inhabit every nook of my sinus cavity. I think they are having a Germ Convention this very moment in my head. In an effort to feel better, I have returned to the bleach. I know, I know. Bleach is not supposed to do wonders for sinus problems, but at least it makes the environment around me seem germless. So today starts off with a sink full of soapy bleach water. If the bleach fumes didn't kill off the germs maybe wallowing in it will. Whatever it takes, those little devils are going down! While the bleach goes to work, I plan on sipping tea, reading a book, taking lots of vitamin C, and maybe even blogging.

Culinary Components of a Great Meal

Do you have any idea what remarkable meal these ingredients make? I confess, you do need one more very important item--filet mignon. Tonight, I made Steak Diane. It is one of my husband's favorites. Shallots, dijon mustard, brandy, Worcestershire, fresh lemon juice, and chives along with a little butter make this meal truly delectable. It's actually very easy.

You will need:

2 filets mignons (salt and pepper both sides)

2 tbs butter

1-2 shallots

1/3 c brandy

1 tbs dijon mustard

2 tps Worcestershire

2 tsp fresh lemon juice

1 tbs chopped chives

1. Melt 1 tbs of butter in a non-stick skillet (save remaining butter for later)

2. Add filets and cook for approx. 5 minutes on each side

3. Transfer filets to a side dish

4. Add shallots to the pan and cook until softened

5. Stir in remaining ingredients (except chives and remaining butter) and cook for 1 minute

6. Stir in chives and remaining butter until butter is melted

7. Pour over filets and enjoy!

Die Germs, Die!

I have been congested, cranky and cooped up in the house for the past few days battling a cold, but this morning, I finally broke free. My day went something like this:

Clean kitchen

Eat lunch with friend

Purchase toothbrush refills (I have to change out the toothbrush when I've been sick!)

Shop for groceries

Finish Laundry

Vacuum

Cook supper

Enjoy an evening with my husband

It's funny how mundane tasks can become such a pleasure after feeling sick. Being in the company of my husband and/or friends is never a mundane task, but the rest of the list I would hardly categorize as overly exciting during a healthy week. Thankfully, my friend didn't mind going out with someone that sounded as though she might be a walking Petri dish. I truly am on the road to recovery even though I may not sound great. With clean sheets on the bed, vacuumed floors and bleached countertops and doorknobs, I somehow feel like the germs know they are not going to succeed. They will inhale the bleach fumes and die a bitter death! Die germs, die!

Chinese Chicken Salad

This evening my husband and I enjoyed Chinese chicken salads. Earlier today I marinated some chicken in a combination of soy, teriyaki and sesame ginger dressing. The chicken was cooked slowly and then served atop a hearty mixture of cabbage, lettuce, and scallions. A few almond slices, craisins, and chow mien noodles topped it all off. I love Chinese salads because they contain both chewiness from the craisins and crunchiness from cabbage and chow mien noodles. It was simple yet delightful.

Food is a definite passion of mine even if I'm not the best cook in the world. I am quite ashamed to say that, although I was born in a coastal Southern town that takes pride in its shrimp and grits, I don't really like shrimp or oysters or clams. I know, for a coastal girl, that is practically a sin. This past weekend I was at a friend's house where Seafood Gumbo was on the menu. I examined it fearfully, swallowed hard and then served myself a small amount that didn't contain any actual shrimp or oysters. As I started eating I realized that my dislike for most seafood really has nothing to do with the flavor. It's all about the texture! I loved that seafood gumbo! It was absolutely delicious. It was the thought of biting into a shrimp or oyster that was utterly disturbing to me--not the flavor. My husband on the other hand, who generally loves shrimp, has never been thrilled with gumbo. He can't get over the okra.

The Beginning of a Blog

I have officially stepped over the threshold and have entered the world of blogging. I must admit it is a little intimidating. I am not a great writer by any means, and I don't know that I really have much to actually put on a blog. I read blogs about food, politics, religion, and hobbies; however, narrowing my own blog to culinary adventures, painting projects or political views seems so restraining to me. It's not that those topics don't interest me, but I don't have a set goal like cooking through Julia Child's cookbook or making sure a certain politician gets elected. Perhaps as this blog gets going I will develop a goal, but for now, it is just an entertaining experience.