Meditations while Mowing

As I've mentioned before, I'm not fond of mowing.  However, it is one of those mindless activities that allows you to ponder.  This morning I was thinking about our service to others and common excuses used why we don't do more.  I think we tend to get bogged down with our own "stuff".  We focus on our own issues, whether they be emotional or physical, and think we are too tired or feel too bad or can't think about anything else at the time.  Don't get me wrong, I realize that there are times when we are almost paralyzed by our grief...and we need to take the time to grieve!  But often we find ourselves getting "stuck" in our pain.

In the grief class that I'm taking, through CASA, we recently learned about STERBs:  short term energy relieving behaviors.  STERBs are those things that we use to dull or forget our pain.  It can be as harmful as alcohol or as innocuous as exercising or watching tv.  If those things are being used to keep us from facing our grief (grief is sadness over any loss OR CHANGE, not just death of a loved one), they are unhealthy.  I think, however, that sometimes a STERB can be a good thing (obviously NOT drinking or overeating or overspending, etc...).  Sometimes we need a short term break from focusing on our pain.  I believe that focusing on helping someone else with their situation is a great STERB!

One thing that I have learned in my (almost) 56 years of life is that EVERYONE has "stuff"!  Pain is inevitable in this world, and most of us are dealing with a difficult struggle at any given time.  If we constantly focus on our "stuff", we never see how much we can help others.  Some of the best people to offer comfort to someone in pain are those who have also suffered...or those who are also suffering!  Even those with physical limitations can reach out and help others.  One of the most physically "challenged" people I know is Heather.  Her struggles with lupus and her heart condition, as well as all of the colon and kidney problems that she has, leaves her too weak and in pain to get out and do much.  However she has managed on several occasions to help organize and serve at a "soup kitchen".  When she can't leave her house, she still manages to pick up the phone to call and encourage others who are struggling or suffered loss.  Everyone has something that they can offer to others!

So my encouragement for the day is to not get bogged down in your own pain and struggles, but use the compassion and wisdom that you learn through them to reach out to others. 

Philippians 2:1-4 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

365 Days of Thanksgiving

I'm going to challenge myself to finding at least one thing to be thankful for every day for the next year.  I'm not talking about the usual pat things that everyone says.  I'm talking about noticing something every day that happens and thanking God for that blessing.  I think we sometimes overlook the little everyday things that are blessings in our lives.  I want to become more aware of these small (or large) happenings and give thanks to my loving Father for taking care of such "incidentals."

Day 1:  Two things came to my mind this morning.  First, I am so thankful to be able to blow my nose!  Up until a few years ago, when I had sinus surgery, I couldn't do this simple task.  I ended up with a LOT of sinus infections because of it!  Now it is such a relief to be able to relieve myself of that uncomfortable stuffiness!  (Sorry if this is a little gross to anyone, but it is SUCH a blessing!)

Secondly, I'm thankful for our meat slicer that I use to make jerky.  (Today is jerky day!)  It is so nice to quickly and uniformly slice up a hunk of venison for drying into this wonderfully tasty treat. 

1 Thessalonians 5:18  In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Learning from baby birds

Psalms 81:10 I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.

This verse was used in a lesson Sunday.  Although I have read Psalms many times, I don’t remember noticing this verse before.  It really caught my attention this time tho. 

I love this imagery.  A baby bird, when it hears or sees it parent will throw back his head, open his mouth, and eagerly wait to be fed…trusting that the parent bird will deliver.  Isn’t that how God wants us to be…trusting Him and eagerly awaiting Him to fill us.  This is so true on both physical and spiritual levels.

Matthew 6:25  Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? [26] Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? [27] Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? [28] And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: [29] And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. [30] Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? [31] Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? [32] (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. [33] But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. [34] Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Matthew 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

I hope to carry that picture in my mind and remember to be like the baby bird, throwing open my mouth (and heart) and allowing God to fill me with His goodness and blessings!

Ironing

I was ironing Ricky's shirts last night and got to thinking....  First of all, ironing always makes me think of Granny.  She "took in" ironing for as long as I can remember...trying to help out with the family expenses.  I can still see her standing in the kitchen in front of her ironing board, listening to Swap Shop on the radio, perspiration trickling down her face.  (No air conditioning in her house...except for a window unit to cool the living room when company came... and a swamp cooler in the guest bedroom.)  To this day, I love the smell of freshly starched laundry.

I began to think about ironing as a metaphor for our purpose as mothers and homemakers.  I mean, isn't that what we do...smooth out the wrinkles?  Of course, literally we care for our family's clothing so they will look nice in public.  (Pr 31:21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.)  But we also "smooth out the wrinkles" in so many more ways.  When the kids or husband come home from a rough day, we try to encourage them and make them feel better.  We send them off with a good meal in their bellies, lunches packed...ready to face their day.  We schedule appointments, buy supplies, clean up after them, etc...."smoothing out the wrinkles"...making their lives run a little easier.  When they can't sleep at night because of stress or emotional pain, we listen patiently and try to lighten their load.  Even when we see them doing something they shouldn't and have to correct them (in meekness - Ga 6:1  Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.), we are still "smoothing out the wrinkles." 

I think I will approach this less than desirable chore with a different attitude from now on.  As I slide the hot iron across the fabric, I will think about what more I can do to "smooth out the wrinkles" for my family.  Happy ironing!

Col 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

Let's round this thing up!

Well, I've finally come to the end of this segment.  (Whew!  Aren't you relieved?!)  Tenth place on my list was a 5-way tie…and all were chicken!  CrockPot Rotisserie Chicken is a good alternative (especially during hot weather) for the Sittin’ Up Chicken that we love so much.  I use the same spice/herb mixture to coat the chicken, put it in my crockpot (that has been sprayed with Pam), cover and set on low (no need to add any liquid).  It produces tender, moist, tasty chicken for dinner, plus provides leftovers for another dish later in the week.  You don’t get the good, crispy skin, which the young’uns really like, which is why I relegate this recipe for days that I don’t want to heat up the house by running the oven.  It is also handy when I'm going to be gone all day. 

I make my Chicken Fajitas using chicken tenderloins (regular size breasts are way too big nowadays!).  I buy them frozen in the 3-pound bag and keep them on hand all the time.  They are SO versatile!  In warm weather we cook them out on the grill, but they can also be cooked up quickly in my George Foreman grill, or stir-fried.  As a special treat, I sometimes substitute jumbo shrimp.  Um mmm!

Chicken Chardon is another fairly new recipe.  It is easy to throw together and cooks up moist and tender.

Chicken Chardon

8 Chicken breasts or tenders

egg

salt and pepper to taste

2 tsp. garlic powder

1 cup bread crumbs

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 pound sliced fresh mushrooms

1/2 stick butter, melted

1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice

1 tsp. chopped fresh (or 1/2 tsp. dried) parsley

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  In a shallow bowl, beat the egg with salt, pepper and 1 tsp. garlic powder.  In a separate dish, mix bread crumbs with another teaspoon of garlic powder and Parmesan cheese.  Set aside.

Mix together melted butter with lemon juice.  Pour 2/3 of the butter mixture into the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish.  Spread mushrooms in an even layer in the bottom of the dish.  Dip each chicken breast into the egg mixture, then into the bread crumb mixture.  Place on top of the mushrooms.  Drizzle remaining butter over chicken and sprinkle with parsley.

Bake uncovered for 45 minutes until chicken is golden brown and juices run clear.

*     *     *

Fantasy Crepes are an old favorite recipe that uses leftover chicken.  Mushrooms and green onions are sautéed in butter, then chicken and grated cheddar cheese are added, and the resulting mixture is rolled up into crepes and baked.  This meal requires a bit more time and effort, but it is well worth it!

Fantasy Crepes
3 eggs, beaten
2/3 cup flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup milk
*******
2 cups (1/4 lb) mushroom slices
1/4 cup sliced green onion

 11/4 cup butter

3 Tbsp. flour

salt and pepper

1 cup milk

2- 1/2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded

1- 1/2 cups cooked chicken, diced

Combine first 4 ingredients and beat until smooth.  Let stand 30 minutes.  For each crepe, pour 1/4 cup batter into a hot, lightly greased 8" skillet (non-stick is preferred).  Cook until underside is lightly browned and top looks dry.  Remove and set aside to cool.  Repeat with remaining batter.

Saute mushrooms and onions in butter; blend in flour and seasonings.  Gradually add milk; cook, stirring until thickened.  Add 1- 1/2 cups cheese, stir until melted.  Stir in chicken. 

Fill each crepe with 1/4 cups mixture; roll up.  Place in 11x7" baking dish.  Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.  Top with remaining cheese; bake until melted.

*     *     *

I have experimented with many stir-fry dishes over the years and have finally settled on my favorite:  Chicken Fried Rice.  Most of the work is in the prep, then everything is stir-fried at the last minute.  It is a good one-pan meal!  (Actually it takes 2 pans, since the rice has to be precooked.)

Benihana Style Fried Rice

chicken breasts or tender, sliced thin

steamed rice

2 eggs, slightly beaten

chopped onion, carrot, green onion (or whatever veggies you prefer)

oil

1/2 tsp. sesame seed (opt)

minced garlic

butter

soy sauce

salt and pepper

Stir fry onions in hot oil in wok for about a minute, add garlic and continue cooking another minute.  Remove from pan and set aside.  Add carrots (and/or other veggies) to hot oil and stir fry until crisp-tender, remove and set aside. 

Add more oil to wok and stir fry chicken until cooked through.  Remove and set aside.

Melt butter in wok.  Add eggs and cook, stirring constantly until done.  Add more butter to pan, melt, and then add rice.  Cook and stir until rice is coated with melted butter and is starting to dry.  Add sesame seed, if desired, and precooked veggies and chicken.  Season with salt, pepper and soy sauce.  Continue to cook and stir until well mixed.

(The secret to its great taste is LOTS of butter!)

*     *    *

Well, I hope you have enjoyed the recipes and getting a peak into our eating habits.  Keeping track of your meals can be really beneficial in providing a good variety of favorite dinners for your family.   Happy cooking (and eating)!

1Ti 6:8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

Diversity: soup, shrimp or meatloaf

Ninth place on my most prepared meal list was another 3-way tie:  Italian Chicken Vegetable Soup, Garlicky Baked Shrimp, and Meatloaf.  The soup is a wonderfully fresh tasting concoction of (lots of) fresh veggies, canned tomatoes, broth and herbs (fresh or dried).  I either cut up chicken breast meat and saute it or used leftover chicken or turkey. 

Italian Chicken Vegetable Soup

chicken breast, cut up (either fresh or leftover)

olive oil (for browning fresh chicken)

2 cans Italian-style diced tomatoes

 6 cups chicken broth

2 cups kale, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup onion, chopped

2 cups baby spinach, chopped

2 small zucchini, cubed

1 med. red bell pepper, chopped

1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes

2 tsp. fresh finely chopped thyme (or 1/2 tsp. dried)

1 tsp. fresh finely chopped oregano (or 1/2 tsp. dried)

salt and pepper to taste

1/4 cup fresh basil leaves  (or about 1 tablespoon dried)

Place all ingredients in a large soup pot.  Cover and bring to boil over high heat.  Reduce heat to low, simmer for about 10 minutes.  Makes enough for a crowd, but is also good leftover.  (I usually half the recipe.)

*     *     *

I never used to cook shrimp, except on VERY special occasions, until after all the kids left home.  Then I started occasionally buying a package of frozen raw shrimp at WalMart and cooking it for Dennis and myself.  Now I serve it at least once a month, either as shrimp scampi or Garlicky Baked Shrimp.  It is a bit pricier than what I normally spend on a meal, but we love shrimp!

Garlicky Baked Shrimp

1 lb. raw shrimp, deveined and peeled

4 cloves garlic, minced

2 Tbsp. white wine

salt and pepper

2 Tbsp. melted butter

1/4 cups Panko bread crumbs

2 Tbsp. fresh Italian-leaf parsley, chopped (or 2 tsp. dried parsley)

half a lemon

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  In a bowl, combine shrimp, garlic, and white wine.  Stir to combine, then pour into a baking dish and spread out evenly.  Season with salt and pepper.

In another bowl, mix melted butter, Panko and parsley until well combined.  Sprinkle evenly over shrimp in baking dish.   Squeeze lemon juice over all.  Bake until shrimp are pink and opaque, about 15-18 minutes.

 Pr 15:17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.

I shoulda been Italian!

There was a 3-way tie for 7th place on my list:  Stovetop Chicken Parmesan, Taco Soup, and Spaghetti.  All three are quick and easy recipes that I've tweaked over the years until I got them the way we like them.  Eighth place was probably my best company dish:  lasagna!  (Have I mentioned that I should have been born Italian?)

I have always loved lasagna, and it has been a favorite meal for guests and family for many years.  However it makes such a LARGE amount that I generally restricted it to when we had company.  Then I discovered lasagna rolls!  I only make up the number I need (generally 1 per person) plus an extra for Ricky to have for lunch.  My recipe for lasagna has also undergone transformations over the years.  I love the recipe that I am currently using.  It has meat cooked in an easy canned tomato sauce, ricotta, provolone, and grated Italian cheeses, and is topped with a white sauce and marinara sauce (out of a jar).  I still go back to the traditional layered lasagna when I cook for company, but it is nice to have a smaller version that I can fix just for us!

Lasagna Rolls

1 lb. ground meat (of course, that means venison around here, but lean beef works well too)
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 can Italian style diced tomatoes
salt and pepper
basil, oregano, or Italian seasoning
lasagna noodles, cooked
1 carton ricotta cheese (I use low-fat)
1 egg, slightly beaten
provolone cheese
shredded Italian style cheese or mozzarella
1 jar marinara sauce
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons chicken granules
1 cup half and half or cream
parsley  (chopped fresh, if you have it...dried, if not)

Brown meat in skillet in olive oil, drain, if needed.  Add garlic and cook another minute, stirring.  Add tomatoes to skillet and season with salt, pepper and basil.  Simmer while cooking noodles.

In small mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese and egg.  Mix well.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Pour a small amount of marinara in shallow baking dish.  Now, make your rolls: Lay a noodle flat on your work surface.  Spread ricotta cheese mixture all along the top.  Tear provolone cheese slice in half and layer over ricotta.  Spoon on some of the meat/tomato mixture and sprinkle with shredded cheese.  Roll up and place, seam side down, in baking dish.  Repeat until all the noodles have been filled and rolled.  Sprinkle with more shredded cheese.  (Freeze any extra meat to use at a later time.)

Make white sauce:  Melt butter in a medium size skillet.  Stir in flour and chicken granules and cook, stirring, for about a minute.  Pour in cream and stir with whisk until sauce thickens.  Remove from heat and stir in parsley.  Pour white sauce over lasagna rolls.  Spoon marinara sauce over white sauce.

Bake for 30-40 minutes, until hot and bubbly.

Serve with a good, hot, crusty bread and a green salad.  Your mouth will love you!

Isa 55:2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.