Recipe: Spaghetti for One

¼ of small onion or 1 small shallot, diced

Garlic cloves (3-4 medium or 5-7 small), minced

1 mini sweet pepper or ¼ of large, seeded & diced

(I also use chopped carrot, zucchini, any vegetable really, just add when adding the pepper in the recipe)

4 oz turkey sausage or ground beef

8 oz can tomato sauce

½ c diced tomatoes & juice (from 14.5 can, I use the entire can)

½ tsp Italian seasonings

½ tsp garlic powder

½ tsp onion powder

½ tsp oregano

½ tsp basil (I don’t use)

1/8 to 1/4 poultry seasoning

1/8 tsp red pepper flakes, optional

Fresh cracked pepper (I use mixed peppercorns), about 5-7 grinds

1 whole bay leaf

½ c hot water

1 ¼ tsp beef bouillon*

1/4 teaspoon lemon juice

2 oz spaghetti pasta

Kosher Salt

Sauté onion, garlic, peppers & any other vegetables you are using in about 1 teaspoon of olive oil until translucent & tender, about 5 minutes.  Remove from pan & set aside.

Add turkey sausage to skillet & cook through.  Just before done, add ¼ teaspoon of each of the above seasonings, a 1/8 teaspoon of the poultry seasoning & a pinch of red pepper flakes if using.  When cooked through, add onion mixture back in.

 

Add tomato sauce & diced tomatoes.  Add an additional ¼ teaspoon of above seasonings, 1/8 teaspoon of poultry seasoning & another small pinch of red pepper flakes.  Add in bay leaf.  Bring just to boiling over medium-high heat.  Reduce heat to low & simmer about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

 

While sauce is simmering, add bouillon to hot water & stir to dissolve; set aside.

 

At the end of the simmer time, taste sauce & adjust seasonings 1/8 to ¼ of a teaspoon at a time to adjust to your desired taste.  Add bouillon & lemon juice to sauce; stir to incorporate.  Set stove to lowest setting & simmer 1-3 hours, stirring occasionally.  The longer it simmers, the deeper the flavors of the finished sauce.

 

About 10 minutes before sauce is done, heat a pot of water to boiling; add pasta & cook until done, about 7 minutes.  Drain & return to pan.  For an even deeper flavor, you can add additional bouillon to the pasta water before adding the pasta, but this is optional.

 

Remove bay leaf, discard.  Take one final taste test & adjust if needed.  You probably won’t need the salt, but if using, add at this time (the bouillon is high in salt; I don’t add any due to this).

 

Pour sauce over pasta; stir to combine & serve hot.  I like to serve with green beans, a green salad & a loaf of fresh crusty French bread or homemade bread.

* use vegetable bouillon and eliminate the meat for a vegetarian option.

Book Review: Amy Carmichael: for the children of India

Book Review:

Amy Carmichael:  for the children of India

By Sam Wellman

Barbour Publishers

© 1998

1998 Book Cover

This book chronicles Amy Carmichael’s life and journeys from Ireland to England to Japan and China and finally to India.

As a child, Amy was adventurous, even getting her brothers into trouble with her.  She was well studied in classical literature; more important than that, she had the Word of God engrafted into her heart.  Even as a child, before she realized the need to ask Christ into her heart she had a soul aware of spiritual things and the leading of the Holy Spirit.  She was a compassionate soul, a trait that would help her in her lift ministry.

As a youth, Amy wanted to help those less fortunate; she became part of a ministry that helped others, especially the young girls that worked in the mills of her area; she utilized her skills of entertaining her younger siblings in her ministry and was a popular figure at the meetings.  She was invited to attend Keswick Convention, a convention of believers to study and discuss the Bible.  Keswick Convention is still an active convention today.  Through Keswick, Amy realized that she needed to accept Christ into her life.  This was a changing point for Amy.

After getting sick in Japan, Amy was on her way back to Ireland to get better & she stopped in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).  It was around this time that she became involved with missionary work in India.  After she recovered and was at the British missionary stations, Amy became disgusted at the very “British” settlements and “lack of conversions” and preaching.  This drew her deeper into India.  She also choose to become native – she dressed, lived, ate like those she was desiring to share Christ with.  This included learning Tamil, the ancient language of the area.  Another missionary, Thomas Walker, took her under his wing and tutored her in the language.  While in Japan, she became aware that she needed to become “native” in order to relate and connect with the local people.

Amy also rejected the British ways of missionary work and convention; instead, she worked & learned how to reach the people, so special to her, to show them a different way.  Appalled by some of the customs of the day/land, Amy set out to do something about it.  Through this, Amy, a single woman, became Amma (mother) of many.

Her greatest desire was to have blue eyes; a prayer never answered by the Lord became one of her greatest assets in saving many of her lotus buds (her nickname for the temple girls she was working at saving).  Dressed as a native, with her brown eyes, she was able to move among the people she so loved easily; she was able to save so many more children and women.  Had her prayers been answered for blue eyes, this would not have been so.

She chose the 6th day of every month to pray for those she was working at helping.  After several unfortunate illnesses, Amy’s closed confidents were no longer at the fellowship working.  Amy realized that she needed to be surrounded by godly sisters who would pray for and with Amy and be a group for fellowship and study.  She called this group “Sisters of the Common Life”; for this group, two things were essential:

• Prayer was essential (focused, deep prayer)
• Service was essential (with joy, they did the jobs no one else wanted to do)

After a disastrous fall, Amy was forced by immense pain to her room; as much as possible, she still encouraged, lead & taught her beloved children.  After 20 years of pain and weakening, Amy slept.  She was laid to rest in her beloved land on the fellowship grounds.  She didn’t want a headstone, so her children honored her resting place with a bird bath (Amy was an avid bird lover) simply marked “Amma”.

This is a story of a minimally educated young woman and how she stepped out in faith and love for her Lord and founded and developed a fellowship to save young children from a life of slavery.  That fellowship still exists today, almost 110 years later.  It still has the same mission that Amy founded it on.  Amy’s motto was “The Cross is the attraction”.

(These are not affiliate links; these are just for more information)

Here is the link to the book.

Here for more information on Dohnavur Fellowship

Here for Keswick Convention

(All quotes from Amy Carmichael, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc.  Used by permission)

Savory Lentils, Rice and/or Beans

Savory Lentils, Rice and/or Beans

1-2 servings

¼ c lentils/½ c water  (I used regular lentils, but red lentils would be a nice substitute)

¼ c rice/1 c water  (I used brown basmati rice, but any rice will do, just cook until tender & liquid has been absorbed)

for each pan:

¼ tsp beef bouillon (use vegetable to make this vegetarian/vegan)

1 tsp onion soup mix (use dried, minced onions to make this vegetarian/vegan)

Smidgeon red pepper flakes (leave out if you don’t care for spice)

1/8 tsp Himalayan pink salt powder (oops…too long in the coffee grinder)

– use any salt you prefer if you don’t have the above

1/8 tsp chef’s essence (use any spice mix you have/prefer)

½ tsp Earth Balance buttery spread (or, if you can have dairy & prefer, use butter)

Cook rice & lentils separate.

For the rice, put water on to boil.  When boiling, add bouillon; stir to dissolve; add rice & remaining ingredients; reduce to simmer (low to medium-low), cover & cook 20-30 minutes or until liquid is absorbed.

For the lentils, put the water on to get hot enough to dissolve bouillon; add lentils & remaining ingredients and once boiling, reduce to simmering & simmer until the liquid is absorbed – 15-30 minutes.

Combine lentils & rice and stir in ½ teaspoon Earth Balance/butter.  Enjoy

You can change the bouillon & seasonings to fit your tastes… Experiment & let me know how you changed it below.

Savory Beans

½ c beans (pintos, red kidney, black, etc or a mix of any)

Water

1 ½ to 2 teaspoons beef bouillon (or vegetable)

1 tbsp onion soup mix (end of packet from above)

1/8 tsp red pepper flakes

¼ tsp chef’s essence or spice blend of your choice

2-3 oz cooked, chopped steak (or steamed vegetables for a vegetarian/vegan option)

½ tsp Earth Balance buttery spread (or, if you can have dairy & prefer, use butter)

1/8 tsp Pink Himalayan salt powder*

Rinse beans & check for any rocks (discard); put in bowl & cover with water to approximately 3-4” above beans; soak overnight.

Drain & rinse beans; place in pot with approximately 2 cups water; bring to a boil.

Add seasonings & beef (veggies) & boil lightly until beans are soft, stirring occasionally.  30 minutes to an hour or so.

Boil off the liquid until you have the soup or stew consistency you desire (I boil most off because I don’t like “soupy” beans).  Add Earth Balance spread/butter & enjoy

*Taste & if needed, add salt a pinch at a time.

Notes:

• A delicious option is to combine all three after cooking for a hearty stew; serve with a salad and bread (cornbread?). If you combine, this will make at least 2 servings – lunch & dinner or a meal for 2.
• “Chef’s Essence”: this is a spice blend that I found at a local store; you can substitute any mixed spice blend you like.
• ¼ c dry rice makes approximately ½ cooked
• ¼ c dry lentils makes approximately 1 c cooked
• ½ c dry beans (pintos) makes approximately 1 cup cooked
• To make VEGAN/Vegetarian, substitute beef bouillon with vegetable bouillon; sub the onion soup mix with dried minced onions and sub the beef for lightly steamed vegetables or tofu or leave out completely.
• To increase the servings, just double or triple.

Did you try these recipes?  What did you think about them?  Would you make any changes?

Cream Cake Recipe

Non-Dairy Cream Cake Recipe

Ingredients

1/3 cup egg whites

1/2 to 3/4 tbsp applesauce (unsweetened)

3/4 to 1 cup sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp almond extract (use 1 tsp vanilla if you don't want/like almond)

1 1/2 c flour

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1 cup (8oz) canned coconut milk (boxed won't work, need canned)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350*; grease & flour 8x8 or 9x9 cake pan & set aside.

Beat egg whites & applesauce until frothy and about doubled; add sugar and mix well.  Add in extract and beat well.

Combine dry ingredients.  Alternating with egg mixture & coconut milk, combine just until all is combined.  Pour into pan & bake 35-45 minutes or until done (when toothpick or knife, inserted in center, comes out clean).

Cool a few minutes in pan & invert onto cooling rack.  Once cool, place on serving plate & cover in frosting or glaze.  Serve & enjoy.

Store in refrigerator.

The Death of the Brain-Sapping Bug

The Death of the Brain-Sapping Bug

I had a bug, near the rug.

No crawling commenced, my focus was fenced.

Its presence commanded; attention demanded;

Bright colors and noise, with disharmonic poise.

Vile living included, Truth-living excluded.

A monster it became,

To some, only a game.

Its lies distrust,

Truth-Seeking a must!

How to remove, I reflected;

For Life & gaining true perspective!

With firm resolve,

The problem I solved.

A picture to prove,

This WAS the right move!

Don’t you know it’s true…

YOU have one too.

A clearer head, I never had

Until it was dead…on the T.V. stand!

Wingin' It Tilapia and Pepper Slaw

Wingin' It Talipia and Pepper Slaw Recipe (1-2 servings)

2-3 Tbsp olive oil

1 Tbsp lime juice

1 head garlic, peeled & coarsely chopped

kosher salt (approximately 2-3 tsp, to taste)

fresh cracked pepper (approximately 2-3 grinds, to taste)

1 can green chilies (adjust to your taste using mild for no heat and hot for a little heat)

2 tilapia fillets, thawed & dried with paper towels

Cilantro, chopped, optional

Combine all ingredients except tilapia & cilantro; place in long shallow bowl; place fillets in marinade & cover.  Let sit about 10 minutes.  

Scrape marinade off fillets & p

lace fillets in baking dish; spoon just the liquid of the marinade over the fish & bake about 5 minutes; remove from oven & spoon remaining marinade liquid over fish & bake another 5-8 minutes, or until fillets are cooked through & flake easily with a fork.  Serve with cilantro sprinkled over.

Pepper Slaw (1-2 Servings)

1/2 pint grape or cherry tomatoes, halved OR 1 or 2 Roma tomatoes, chopped.

1 Serrano chili, sliced*

2-3 mini sweet peppers, seeded & julienned

2 tbsp rice vinegar

1 tbsp olive oil

cilantro, chopped (to taste)

*remove seeds & ribs to remove some of the heat

Mix all ingredients & refrigerate about 20-30 minutes to chill; mix before serving.

Bringing Peace to My Little Corner of the World

Three Questions To Ask Before Watching a Movie  (Link)

"Sacrificing our serenity of mind — or mental purity — is not worth a few minutes of supposed entertainment."


3 weeks ago I removed my T.V. from my living room.  Currently I don't have it plugged  in and I'm contemplating not plugging it in again until I have better choices to view. 

I found my self glued to it and I wasn't a joyful or kind person - I was a reflection of what I was watching...  

One of the things that was constantly in my mind in times of contemplation was Philippians 4:8 - "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." 

" Basically, we want to watch movies with an eye for the true, the honorable, the just, pure, lovely, and commendable. Heeding Paul’s instructions in Philippians 4:8, we should “think about these things”  " (from the article).

I realized that I wasn't "thinking on those things" and knew I needed a change.  Still, it took me several weeks AFTER making my decision to remove the t.v.  There has only been one day since that I thought I'd plug it back in, for about 1 minute...

I'm more peaceful and calmer.  My mind feels clearer.  I'm pleased with the decision.  My t.v. will quite possibly sit, unplugged, in the spare room.  I've also found myself being more active at home...cooking more (something I actually really like to do...) and actually being productive in some goals that I want to accomplish.  Of course, some days, I come home and just sit in my recliner with Penelope.  Those days, I can reflect on my blessings, other times I just sit and listen to the clocks ticking.  I'm also reading more.

More and more I'm also applying the same principle (Phil. 4:8) to other areas of my life - reading material, conversations, activities, finances, etc.

This is not a post to tell you that you need to get rid of your t.v./watching movies, etc.  It's a personal decision per person/family.  

My ONLY intent was to 
1) share the article (while good I don't agree with parts of it) & 
2) just to say what's been on my mind recently & the decision which followed.

Chicken Enchiladas

The other day, I needed something for a potluck...going through my freezer, I found some cooked chicken and I knew I had tortillas and cheese, I just didn't have any enchilada sauce so I looked one up.  It turned out delicious!  Someone requested the recipe so I thought I'd share what I did (it's a little long, but worth the effort).

 Chicken Enchilada’s

1 onion, sliced

2 celery stalks, chopped

8 ounces unpeeled scrubbed ginger, cut into 1/2"-thick slices

2 garlic cloves, crushed

10 whole black peppercorns

1 3-pound whole organic chicken, cut into 7 pieces (2 breasts, 2 legs with thighs attached, 2 wings, 1 back)

Kosher salt

Fresh jalapenos, chopped (seeded, optional – leave in if you like it spicy)

Fresh or jarred cactus, chopped (if jarred, rinse before chopping)

Hot and spicy spice mix (I use my own blend)

¼ c oil

2 tbsp flour

2 tbsp chili powder

8 oz tomato sauce

1 c water, more if needed

¼ tsp cumin

½ tsp garlic powder

½ tsp onion powder

Salt, to taste

Flour tortillas (1 pkg, gordita size)

Cheddar Cheese, shredded (@ 1lb)*

Combine the first 5 ingredients in a large heavy pot. Add chicken, placing breasts on top. Add 6 quarts water (preferably filtered or spring water); bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cover with lid slightly ajar. Reduce heat to low; simmer until chicken breasts are just cooked through, about 30 minutes. Transfer chicken breasts to a plate; let cool, then cover and chill. Continue to simmer soup, uncovered, until broth is fully flavored, about 2 ½ hours longer. Return breasts to soup to re-warm, about 5 minutes.

Remove chicken from broth. When cool enough to handle, coarsely shred meat; discard skin and bones. Place a fine-mesh sieve over another large pot; strain broth, discarding solids in strainer (you should have about 8 cups broth). Season with salt.

Set aside the broth for another use.

Place chicken in skillet; add chopped jalapeno (I used approximately ¼ to ½ cup) and chopped cactus (approximately ¼ cup, fresh…jarred can also be used, rinse & chop and add to chicken). 

Add 2-3 tsp to 2-3 tbsp of a hot and smoky spice mix and a small amount of water (1/4 cup); stirring occasionally, cook over medium-low heat until water is evaporated.  Set aside.

Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat; stir flour and chili powder into oil.  Cook and stir until smooth.  Gradually add in remaining ingredients, reduce heat to low and cook until thick, about 10 minutes.

Lightly spray a baking dish (I used 10” x 15”) with cooking spray.

Heat a tortilla in microwave for about 10 seconds – remove and add a scoop of chicken, roll up and place in sprayed dish; repeat with remaining chicken and tortillas.  When dish is full and/or you are out of chicken/tortillas, spoon enchilada sauce over, covering well.  Top with cheese (the more the better, I say!!) and bake in 350 degree oven for about 20-30 minutes or until heated through and cheese is melted.

before mine went in the oven.

*Use non-Dairy Cheese for a non-dairy version.

Truly “My Little Corner of the World”

This past August, I received a double blessing and what has and is quickly becoming my little corner of the world.  My first blessing of August was a delightful little companion, a Chiwennie puppy at 7 weeks old.  I wasn't sure I was going to survive the puppy stage.  A Chiwennie is a cross between a Chihuahua and a Wiener Dog.  My little girl is Penelope.  She is now 7 months old and such a delight (most of the time).  She makes coming home less lonely.

7 weeks old

about 5 months old

My second blessing I received in August was moving out of my parent’s house one short year after moving back to the West Coast from Michigan…a move that I fought.  Even though I didn’t want to return, I’m glad I did.  I have a great job at the company I wanted to work at in 2008 when the economy slumped.  I just celebrated my first year anniversary of becoming an employee.  My apartment is just a few short blocks from where I work.  Even though it is on a busy one way street near the heart of downtown and in one of the not so nice areas of town (there are worse areas though…), I’m blessed in my apartment.  I celebrated Thanksgiving for once, being able to do more than just make mashed potatoes.  In addition to potatoes, I was also able to carry part of the load of one of the turkeys and 2 pumpkin pies.  I’ve only cooked a couple of turkeys before and it has been quite a few years.  It turned out beautifully.  My second attempt ever at making pies became quite the challenge.  The first pie dough ended up in the garbage…it wouldn’t roll out or cooperate in any other way.  My second batch rolled beautiful, but almost wasn’t enough for the two pies.  The filling and baking of them turned out okay and everyone seemed to enjoy them.  I’m so thankful I had a place of my own to help carry the family traditions.  I’ve also had friends and family over for meals in my new little corner of the world. 

Decorating my corner has been interesting; the decorating scheme seems to be whatever I have and some of what others have given.  My coffee table is a table I had that the original paint job had been ruined.  I sanded it and spray painted the legs brown; the top was painted a peach/apricot color that I used on three chairs that my parents gave me that they just had sitting around.  Thankfully, the three chairs are a matching set; the paint was just the thing to make them fit.

chair before

table before (after sanding)

chair after

table after (it's hard to see it, but it is the only picture I could find)

 One of my unique items I have is an old window in my living room.  A few years ago, at one of my old apartment buildings, when the windows were being replaced, I was given the old one.  I wanted to do a craft project with it someday.  When I moved in August, it came with me.  It was in my spare room for several weeks.  When I was working in there, unpacking, I moved it into my living area so I wouldn't break it.  I have grown to admire having it in my space.  It just seems to fit well. (I don't have a picture of it yet).

When I was moving, the lovely lady who lived across the street was planning her own move and shared many items of furniture, dishes and food with me (what a tremendous blessing!!!).  One of the items was a queen size bed.  It is on a metal frame, no head board or anything.  I really wanted to have something to cover the bare wall behind.  With minimal finances at that time, I came up with the following idea:  I had a set of decorative curtains – an “English Garden” scene looking through a set of French doors at that garden.  The only thing I purchased to make my headboard was a $10 curtain rod at Walmart.  I hung it on the wall with the curtains…it works perfectly.  My room is a mismatch of items with the colors leaning towards blue, pink and purple.  My brother, who is a painter, gave me one of his recent paintings as a house-warming gift…a blue background with a tree with pink buds growing on each branch - a perfect match for the room.    I recently purchased 20 small sparkly orbs on clearance and 6 huge ones.  I’m looking forward to hanging them from the ceiling.  I think the room will be mostly complete at that point, only needing newer bedding – another purchase and story for another time.

Dwell refreshed

Pet Peeves

Thinking about pet peeves.  Here are mine:


#1:  Not pulling over for emergency vehicles

#2:  Talking on the phone while in the restroom (disgusting to all and especially rude to who you are talking to)

#3:  Being told, after I've done something, that I'm not supposed to do something (eg:  not being trained correctly for a job and then being criticized for not doing it right).

#4:  People chewing with mouth open or talking with food in their mouth, someone eating noisily (eg:  hearing them from across the room and over a movie being on)

What are yours?






Dwell refreshed.

Engagement & Marriage

There are many resources for those who are wanting to be married, planning a wedding or married.  This is a list of links one should listen to if in the above mentioned groups (wanting/planning/married):




1) The Basics of a Christian Marriage
2) Praying Big for Your Marriage
3) Important Topics to Discuss during Engagement
4) Staying Pure during Engagement
5) Leave and Cleave
6) Making the Decision: Moving from "Do I?" to "I Do"
7) Preparing for the Marriage (not just the wedding)
8) Knowing God's Will for Marriage: Part 1
9) Knowing God's Will for Marriage: Part 2
10) Lasting Love: Part 1
11) Lasting Love: Part 2






For additional resources, click on the title above.  The www.oneplace.com website has many, many resources on all aspects of life.




Dwell refreshed.

We must remember to give thanks in all things...in the good, we usually just go about our merry without saying thanks...when in tough times, we can become overwhelmed we forget to pray, for thanks or for help.  It's in these times that we need to seek Him, to draw close to Him for our comfort and our shelter.   He is always there, even when it feels like you are completely alone.  


Are you in a situation that seems hopeless?  He can heal all, but remember He resolves it in His time, not ours.  We don't know why we have to suffer through certain things, but whether it is a time of testing for us or a situation that is out of our control (such as our pain being the result of the actions of someone else), we need to turn to Him.  We need to give thanks for what He is going to do.  At the same time, we need to ask what lesson we need to learn, or can learn through it all - good or bad.


When you don't know what to pray, or you are so tired/overwhelmed, just remember Romans 8:26...The Spirit utters groanings for us (paraphrase...the Spirit prays for us, when we don't know what/how to pray).  This also would apply when we are excited and/or overwhelmed in the blessing/joy we have in our lives.  Just remember to thank Him for the good and the bad and keep holding on.


Hold fast to the promises in the Word!






Dwell Refreshed...

True Woman | Sign the Manifesto

True Woman | Sign the Manifesto

Check this out.

Dwell refreshed

Mary's Belongings (A Poem)

Mary had a little lamb

all fricassed with peas,

then a little lobster salad

and some energetic cheese;

A quart of hock to wash it down,

a taste of mountain dew - 

All those our little Mary had; 

and a little coffin, too.

I found this on a newspaper clipping glued in the front of a 1903 "The White House Cookbook".

(A comprehensive cyclopedia of information for the home by Hugo Ziemann [steward of the White House] and Mrs. F. L. Gillette; The Saalfield Publishing Company)

Thought it was cute

Dwell Refreshed