Amazing Keto Waffles / Pancakes

So....we decided to start doing the ketogenic diet and so far it is pretty terrific!  We both are feeling great, sleeping like the dead, and are dropping weight...all without feeling deprived or hungry!  What???  That sound impossible!  Apparently it isn't! Yay!

To top it off, today I came across this wonderful recipe that is fabulous, so I wanted to share.

 

Ingredients

Batter:

• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 4 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, or sugar free vanilla syrup
• 1 tablespoon sugar substitute, or more to taste
• 4 tablespoons coconut flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 dash cinnamon (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon maple extract (optional)
• almond milk or half and half as needed

For pancakes only:

• 1/2 teaspoon additional baking powder

For waffles only:

• 1 tablespoon melted butter (optional, but recommended)

Instructions

1. Combine cream cheese, eggs, vanilla, sugar substitute, maple extract, and cinnamon with a blender or mixer. Add melted butter to waffle batter if desired.
2. Add baking powder and coconut flour, blending again until well combined.
3. NOTE: The matter may thicken if left to sit for more than a few minutes. If this happens, just add a splash of almond milk, cream, or half and half to thin it again.

For Pancakes:

1. Using an electric griddle set to 325F or a greased pan over medium heat, pour batter to form circles between 4 and 6 inches in diameter.
2. Flip pancakes when the edges begin to harden and the surface begins to bubble. Cook on the other side 2-3 minutes, or until golden brown.

For Waffles:

1. Add batter to preheated waffle iron. Cook for 5-7 minutes, or until golden brown.
2. Serve with butter, sugar free syrup, and/or fruit/jam.

50 Shades of Gray Don't Exist!

     Shades of Gray are what make us just a fair bit of nutty.  Shades of gray are what enables us to say, “Yes, but….,” in virtually any situation.  The world is nothing but a melting pot of black and white, and it has swirled down into a large bubbling vat of…….Gray!

                Here’s the thing.  There are many shades of colors in this intriguing world we temporarily call home.  In fact, I take much pleasure in the magnificent colors I have found in this life.  But, one thing is true, and that is, there are not shades of gray. 

     There’s Black and there’s White.  There’s Right and Wrong.  There’s Good and Evil.  There’s Love and there’s Hate.  The space in between these polar opposites are not shades of gray.  They are simply other stations of the same poles. 

     Jesus called us to love.  He didn’t call us to the middle ground.  He didn’t call us to various stages of ‘like,’ found in between love and hate.  No, He called us to love. 

     He told us to “go, and sin no more.”  He didn’t say, “Hey, please feel free to explore the ‘gray’ areas between obedience and sin.”  We are either obedient or we are sinning.  The gray area doesn’t exist, except in our minds.  It is there when we are trying to rationalize our behaviors, and when we attempt to justify our wrongful desires. 

     Yep, when we humans want to do something we will grab our mental measuring sticks so fast it would make the devil’s head spin in total glee.  We whip that puppy out and start measuring.  “Well, if I do this, but not that.”  “Well, she did this, I’m not that bad; I could never do that!”  And on, and on, until we feel just fine about what we want to do.  Which is as it should be, right?  I mean, it’s our life.  Shouldn’t we be allowed to do whatever we want, please ourselves, follow our bliss? 

     The answer is yes.  We can do what we want.  It’s our choice.  Woohoo!!!  But, there’s just one tiny thing…..and it’s not gray….it’s white.

      TRUTH.  See, the truth is, you can do whatever you want, but you cannot avoid the consequences.  They aren’t gray, either.  They are very much black and white.  Every single solitary choice we make has a consequence.  A good one, or a bad one.

                 So, you may be asking, what is my point.  My point is this.  While everyone is having moral meltdowns, facebook standoffs, and blogging duels over whether a movie should be viewed or not, it feels like everyone is literally backstroking through shaded seas of gray! 

                This is not the first, nor will it be the last book published that has crazy amounts of erotica and highly questionable content, nor will the movie be the last.  So, instead of fighting it so hard, and alienating, why are we not reaching out in love?  Why are we not introducing people to Jesus, to Holy Spirit?  Why are we flinging mud and staking the moral high ground?  And, I’m not saying moral high ground isn’t a great place to live, it is.  However, black and white dictates that we react this way to all of the other gross offenders we have in our midst, right?  Black / White.  No shades of gray.

     We are called to a standard of chaste behavior, lust-free living, and yet I challenge you to find one primetime tv show that doesn’t have racy scenes, sexual innuendos, scantily clad actors, etc.  Our society is literally permeated with SEX.  Good sex, bad sex, old sex, young sex, legal sex, illegal sex, sexual predators, and sexual deviants. SEX, Sex, sex………it sure seems to be what makes America go round.

               With all of that said, I suppose you are thinking I am saying we should just do nothing, like it just doesn’t matter.  Nope!  That's not what I’m saying, at all!

                 How about this.  Let’s look at ourselves in the mirror.  Let’s ask Jesus to show us the spots in our own hearts that need dusting, scrubbing, or a complete overhaul.  Let us ask forgiveness for the places we fall short in this non-chaste society we live in.  Let us walk out each day as humbly, and holy as we can.  We are all a mess!  Each and every one of us.  Thankfully, as long as we press in to God, and listen to Holy Spirit, allowing Him to guide us, we can grow.  And you know what will happen then?

               Our Light will grow brighter and more inviting!  And as it does, it will draw people to Him and they will want to be clean, and chaste, and humble, and holy, and LOVED.

               And then…..they will no longer want to live in the Shades of Gray!

How?

How?  How, Lord, do You do this?  How do You love with that pure, tender heart bursting with the greatest love?  A love so unimagined and inconceivable to our human mind?  How do You look upon all the pain in your children's lives?  Is it simply absorbed into that infinite love that is You?  I doubt it.  I think because Your love is so pure, so perfect, the pain is even truer, sharper, more poignant. I believe we, in all our broken humanness, know nothing of Your pain, nor will we ever. 

When I look upon the pain of a dear loved one, I cannot help but think of the pain You must feel; of all the needless pain we have caused Your magnificent heart.  How, no matter how You love us, pursue us, and woo us, we have still given You infinitely more hurt, than we ever have love.

And yet.....there You are!  Oh, Lord, I do love You so!  I do need You so!  I do trust You so!  In the very center of the most horrible storms, I have only You to cling to and it is there that I feel Your comfort, Your warmth, Your love, despite the other feelings that wash over me, Your crazy love for me always overshadows it all.  Thank You!!!  A million times, thank You!!

I sit here today watching this sweet blessing, this incredible gift of a girl You brought into my life seven years ago.  She hurts Lord.  She misses her parents, siblings, and family.  She just wants to go home and have Thanksgiving.  She doesn't want a lot.  She just wants a tiny bit of what others call 'mundane.' Playing with her cousins, running cars on the floor, jumping on the trampoline, teasing each other, hugging too hard, this is what she wants to do.  She doesn't really get why all this is happening, but she doesn't complain.  She will tell you she's scared and ask to not take a med or have a procedure, but then will just go on and get through it.....because she trusts us.  

Lord, please help all of us, every single person, to trust You like she trusts us. To listen to You even when we are terrified; to follow You, even when the path ahead seems dark and treacherous; to love You no matter what. 

That is my solemn, heartfelt prayer today, Father!  That, and a sincere gratefulness for this child.  I will stand before You so thankful for every single second You grant us with her.  And because of Your love and sacrifice, I will also get to spend eternity with her.

Thank You for that!!

  ~kathy     

Steps to Knowing God Better

   
      Someone asked me the other day what I would say were good steps to Knowing God better.  So, these are some of my thoughts.  :D

      Time with Him........Yes, devotion time is needed and is good, but time listening is what we need.  Many times we talk, talk, talk, ask, ask, ask, and then pray, pray, pray, only to go about our day without hearing what God has to say.
      What if you did that with your spouse or best friend?  How long do you suppose they would consider you a good friend if you never heard what they had to say?
      Relationship implies there is more than one person....it takes two!!  Communication is essential; it's key.  So, yes, we are to communicate with Him, but we are to receive that from Him, as well.

How?  Well, He speaks to us.  The scriptures clearly state we will know His voice.  (john 10:2)  He speaks to us through those Holy Scriptures, which are so rich with answers and wisdom, if we'd but partake.  They are His written voice!

They help us know Him better and build our faith.  Romans 10:17 - So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.  Ex:  First, hear the word, get it inside your heart, Then, faith will come (be built).   Sometimes he will speak to you through someone or something, a song, a moment....even a quiet breeze on a fall day.  He is everywhere, including with and in you, if you have allowed Him entry.  He longs to live every moment with you, he's waiting, give Him your all....all of you.

       Joy........"The joy of the Lord will be my strength.  He will uphold me all of my days.  For, I am surrounded by mercy and grace, and the joy of the Lord is my strength."  These are a few lines of one of my favorite songs.  They speak so much truth.
    The joy of the Lord is a precious gift.  It is a supreme satisfaction that permeates your entire being when you truly, unequivocally embrace who you are in Christ!  When you know to the depths of your soul that the Lord Jesus is your King, Saviour, Redeemer, Deliverer, Creator.... When you know that His love for you is endless, that you are right now, in this very moment, eternally His....When you are captivated and in awe of His majesty, love, grace, brilliance, kindness, righteousness, gentleness and all-consuming love and power... Then, there is a joy that never leaves.  it makes you want to dance with Him and for Him, to kneel at His feet, to shout his name, to learn all His ways and to care for all His sheep.
    This joy is like a beautiful oasis in the midst of a barren desert.  Or a warm cozy fire on a cold, winter's night.  It's an enveloping protection that is very freeing in the security that it brings.  To me, it's another facet of His love.

     How do you connect with God the best?  It sounds like a funny question but oftentimes people 'hang out' with Him in vary different ways.  In Genesis, it says they strolled the gardens together. 

I know many people, myself included, who feel very near to God when they spend time in nature.  From a simple walk in the park, to a nature hike or sitting on a log inhaling the smells of the forest, these are great places to commune with Him.

     In song....this is by far my favorite.  It is definitely my heart.  I love to worship and praise the Lord in song.  I could very literally 'sing of His love forever.'  I love to sing to Him.  The Word states He inhabits the praises of His people (ps 22:13).  I so believe that.  For me, worship literally ushers me  into His presence.  while I am singing, I close my eyes and I am with Him, singing directly to Him.  It is very intimate and personal, like a deep heart to heart.  Oftentimes, I will be led to pray or will 'hear' or get clarity on something from Him.  It's totally an awesome way to spend time with God.

     Creating and working are another way to spend time with Him.  I know several people who feel closer to him when they are working and creating.  There are many others as well, prayer time, devotional, dance, etc.  The key is to find yours.  Like anything else, ask Him to help you.  He will, believe me, because He wants to spend time with you.

     Prayer, wow, this is such a BIG six letter word.  For most people, hearing 'prayer' or pray conjures up long-winded, flowery, boring speeches by know-it-all Christians who seem to talk in circles.

 Please don't let that be your definition of this most powerful tool and spiritual weapon.

Yes, we can recite a pre-written prayer from a prayer book pertaining to a certain subject if we need to; there's nothing wrong with that, if it's heartfelt.  In fact, "The power of a praying wife" has some fantastic prayers that I have availed myself of.

But, prayer is so much more!

It's communicating with the Most High!  Sharing with your Saviour!  Confiding in the Holy Spirit! It's Petitioning,  It's sharing your gratefulness.  His word tells us to give Him all our cares and worries, because He cares for us.  (1 pet 5:7) And to come to Him without fear, but with boldness, and that we are welcome in His presence. (eph 3:12 & heb 4:16)  And remember....

Often, my prayers are specific and a request for help or protection.   But, my favorite is the continual dialogue all through out the day.  it's so relational.  Just chatting about what I'm feeling or thinking or how the day is going so far.  Asking how I'm doing on a project, if He has anything He needs me to do, how should I handle a situation, etc.  Just staying in touch with Him....I love it!

      Ok, so that is probably more than you were looking for, but it is a few of my thoughts on really getting to know your God rather than just knowing 'about' Him.  They are two vastly different things and  the distinction is one that has the power to vastly change your life.

   ~kathy

Broken? Bruised? Abandoned? Betrayed? Lost? Hurting? 

Life WILL bring you blessings and grief. There is absolutely no getting around it. You can accept it or pretend it isn’t truth. Just a note, that works as well as pretending gravity doesn’t apply to you!

There is a freedom in accepting that truth. There is even more freedom in knowing that God is in control. He is the only one who does have control. He is the only one with full knowledge and view of the big picture. Complete. No pieces missing. A Masterpiece.

So…we can rail against the things we don’t like and think we can control or better yet, we can place our trust and confidence in the One who is in control, and loves us more than we can even begin to fathom.

STOP the madness!!

I am really, really ready for people to stop being so 'prickly'

about every little thing. Personally, I grew up in an America 

where we lived and encouraged each other. Where we were 

proud of our heritage and our country. Over the past two 

decades behavior has eroded and for some unfathomable 

reason everything must please everybody! How crazy is 

that? FEAR has a choke hold on our country, including its 

leaders. They act out of fear, legislate out of fear and deny 

normal everyday simple pleasures in fear it may offend 

someone else. STOP IT!!!!! Give each other more credit than 

you are doing. Tiny plastic army men no more represent the 

shooter at Sandy Hook than a toy fighter plane represents 

the destruction of our World Trade Center Towers. STOP 

feeding fear to our children. My guess is, if you had handed out 

those cupcakes and asked those third graders what they 

represented they would have said something like, "Well, it's 

Billy's birthday and he wants to be a soldier when he grows 

up." (i don't the childs name). Adults are acting like fools and 

poisoning the minds of our children. It has to STOP!

http://eagnews.org/third-graders-birthday-cupcakes-with-plastic-army-men-deemed-insensitive/

Focus

Focus, so often life is all about our focus. What is getting and keeping your attention? This week we experienced and witnessed one of the worst things imaginable, children killed intentionally. It violates the most basic of human instincts. We, well most of us, instinctively protect and nurture children. We wonder at their innocence and marvel at the way they see the world around them.

Friday, December 14, 2012 was an unexpectedly violent, shocking day. We read the reports, saw the newscasts, heard the commentaries and ultimately we internalized pain and horror that many of us never thought possible.

The sirens had barely stopped shrieking before nationwide people were adamantly discussing gun control, gun ownership, illegal guns and semi-automatic weapons. It is a divisive topic to say the very least. Division seems to be the norm of late in this "United" States. I understand and welcome differing ideas, but outright division and the anger that seems to accompany it, does absolutely nothing but hurt our country and keep us polarized.

The devastation and ramifications from this tragedy will be ongoing. Everyone involved will be left with the indelible marks of tragedy on their hearts. But, what of the good? Why when tragedies like this happen do we focus on the bad?

The truth is mass murders have been on the decline for quite some time. The truth is that of all the things that kill people in our country every year, murder is at the bottom of the list. The truth is horrible, seemingly inexplicable horrors, occur worldwide each day. The truth is miracles, kindness and selfless acts occur daily and at a far greater rate. My desire is that we would begin to focus on the good, the kindnesses, and the miracles, small and large, that surround us. May we stop feeding hatred, discontentment and anger and rather purposefully look for the bright joys that also surround us. Love never fails!! I pray we all remember this truth.

Below I have places some interesting statistics I found on the FBI and census websites. After reading them, I wonder if you will think we should rid ourselves of some other items besides guns.....hmmmmmmm....... 

The United States population in 2010 was 308,745,538.

2010 – Causes of Deaths in United States
• 1,400,000 deaths due to abortion in 2010 (but at least they weren't shot by a madman)
• 599,413 deaths due to heart disease
• 567,628 deaths due to cancer
• 443,000 deaths due to cigarette smoking each year 

      (approx 49,000 due to exposure to secondhand smoke)
• 137,353 deaths due to chronic lower respiratory disease
• 128,842 deaths due to stroke
• 118,021 deaths due to unintentional injury (accidents)
•  79,003 deaths due to alzheimer's
•  68,705 deaths due to influenza and pneumonia
•  36,909 deaths due to suicide
•  32,885 deaths due to motor vehicle accidents
•  12,996 deaths due to murder in 2010 which is .0042% of the population 

       (8,442 of these involved guns and of those, 5,097 were handguns)
• Justifiable Homicides in 2010 totaled 665. (387 by law enforcement and 278 by private citizens)

Violent Crimes declined for the 5th consecutive year (10/29/12)
http://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/fbi-releases-2011-crime-statistics

NOW is the time....

My heart is broken, crying for the families of these precious adults and children shot today at their school. Undoubtedly, people will ask why. Why would a man do this? What happened to cause this type of disregard for life? Once again, we will hear people espouse the virtues of the Second Amendment and we will hear people adamantly demand more gun control. We will be inundated by the live re

ports, updated news casts, personal stories and a plethora of viewpoints from authorities in law enforcement, security, psychology and mental health.

Prayers will be cried, pleaded, and humbly asked. Anger will spew forth. Blame will begin. Why didn't someone know he was mentally ill? Why didn't anyone do anything to get him help? How could his own family and friends not see signs of impending doom? Why didn't the school have more security?

You see, we humans love our neat little boxes. We have to know why. We must be sure someone is to blame, therefore, we have some semblance of control over our lives. Surely if we can honestly say, "well, if that person would have......, then, this wouldn't have happened..." , we can sleep better knowing there was a cause. What we don't want to admit to ourselves is that you can only control your own personal actions. That is it. You can control how you deal and react to each moment in your everyday life. No more.

This morning there was not one parent who wondered if they would see their baby after school today. There wasn't a teacher or principal who thought today would be any different than yesterday. They went to work to do their job. Those children went to school happily knowing tomorrow was Saturday, yea! No one knows when our final moment will be upon us. We are not given that control.

Now is not the time for finger pointing, legislation, unbridled anger and hate. NOW is the time for the true church to step into the gap. Today was about a heart, a soul. Because that soul was lost, twenty-seven precious lives ended. Jesus' redeeming truth is what is needed in our society. His peace, love, forgiveness is what heals. His ultimate gift, the only thing in this universe that can rebirth a dark, black, despairing heart, is what must be received. Then, we will see change. As long as time has been, there has been evil. We must not forget we war against evil every minute of every single day.

Do you walk daily in a personal relationship with Christ? Have you tasted his unimaginable goodness? It is not a difficult thing to have and yet we humans try to make it complicated. You do not need special rules, regulations, doctrine, clothing, lifestyle or anything else. You simply need to say, right where you are, "Jesus, I accept that you died for me, that you are the true Son of God, that you love me and I want to be forgiven and walk out my life with You." That's it. From that point forward, you live your moments with Him. He guides you. It is a two-way street, like all relationships. He doesn't do all the work. You have to communicate with Him, and He wants you to spend time with him. Pray (talk) to Him, ask Him to help you want to read the Bible and to make the Truth of it real to you.

You, yes, you reading this, you who attends church every Sunday, prays every night before bed, PRAY for God to give you the courage and strength to live your life as a bright light to those around. Lost people don't find Him through fear, intimidation, judgement or rules. They find Him through His light that emanates from His people. Love finds them. None of us are worthy, but all of us are redeemable. There is not one soul the Father doesn't want reconciled. Love on the people around you. Love like Jesus does. Let the Holy Spirit quicken hearts, don't try to do that job. Just ask God to show you opportunities to be His hands and feet.

Today, thank Him for those precious people He has blessed you with. And lift up these families in prayer. Only God's peace can comfort them now.

~kathy

Labels. Categories. Boxes.

"Does anybody hear her?  Can anybody see?  Does anybody even know she's going down today?  Under the shadow of our steeple, with all the lost and lonely people searching for the hope that's tucked away in you and me."

That verse seems to be playing on an endless loop inside my head.  Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see?  My heart has become heavy of late for those in our society that seem to be labeled "throwaway." 

Throwaway.  Disposable.  Useless.  Unredeemable.  Unworthy.  Unlovable.

The homeless, runaways, drug addicts, prostitutes, imprisoned, abused, the list is long and ugly.  It is full of prejudice, complacency, pain, misunderstanding, hopelessness, and apathy.  It's full of PEOPLE. 

People who each have their own story of what happened in this life to bring them to the place they are today.  Each of us is weak.  Each of us is strong.  When those weak times come, it matters who is beside you and within you.  It matters, because every single solitary one of us could end up on that list at any time. 

And maybe that is why it is easy to turn a blind eye and cold heart.  Does acknowledging the list touch a spot deep within that reminds us we aren't so far from them? Or, does believing we are different than them help us believe we could never be where they have ended up?  Do we turn a blind eye to keep ourselves from noticing the fall from where we are to where they are is really infinitesimally small?

There but for the Grace of God, go I.

I very well could have ended up on that list, so many times.  I was regarded and treated as a nothing during my time as a sex slave, a human trafficking victim.  My abuse was hidden away inside the walls of private homes and townhouses.  I wasn't so different from those society labels as "prostitutes".  Most of them are not there by choice but by force. Prostituted, not prostitutes.  Most are victims just like I was.  Yet, they are forced to walk the streets.  Heaped upon the abuse of being used as a human sex toy, is the degradation of society, as we look down upon them from our 'normal, upstanding lives' (interject sarcasm)

Which one could you have been?  The runaway, the druggie, the alcoholic, the bum, the criminal? 

What within each of us creates the need to label and segregate? Didn't our Lord not only create us all, but die for us all, as well?  What person did He ever create and then consider to be a mistake or a throwaway? 

Today, I challenge all of us to ask God to allow us to see His people as He does.  Ask Him to remove the worldly lens you have been looking through for so long.  Once that lens is removed you won't want it back and you won't be the same.

Now.....what do you see?

  ~kathy

The Journey

Ever had one of those days, or months, or heck, even years that play out like a badly written Monday night movie?  Those times when it feels like the best of what you can bring to this playing field of life, seems as if it's a million times less than even the proverbial "drop in the bucket?"  When you seek God and obey, you love your spouse, children, friends and strangers and pour into them.  You know, those times when if life were simply a list of check boxes to fill, you would have been able to check them all in bold!  I have lived through many of those time periods and honestly, I know too many folks, right in this minute, who seems to be smack dab in the midst of it. 

I have heard, and I have even said, that life often feels like a roller coaster ride.  It can be a myriad of hills, valleys, twists and turns.  But, thinking of it now, I would have to say I, and many others had it wrong when we said that.  See, a roller coaster ride does have a valley and a climb to the top, but what it doesn't have is those long, steady plateaus.  We don't talk much about those, do we?  It's the depth or the height.  The pit or the pinnacle.  The deep, plunging fall or the rapid rise to the summit.  We don't talk much about the journey. 

Journeys can be fun, but often it is the culmination of the journey or possibly a point a long the way, that is exciting and awaited.  Those are the times we seem to rush toward, leaving the journeying itself overlooked, ignored and often viewed as an inconsequential task to bear.  Something to "put up with" on the way to the fun stuff.

I would challenge you today to look at your journey.  To intentionally notice where you are.  Live in every moment, take in the experiences along the way, the good and the not so good.  Each experience has something for you.  You can learn from every single thing you walk through, run past, or jump over.  Those experiences and learned knowledge will be needed by you or someone else.  Don't just avoid learning them, leaving them there like so many unused tools.  The journey ahead may very well call for one of those tools.  Better to pick each one up, familiarize yourself with it, and place it in your backpack for future use. 

Most importantly, remember your God along the way.  Trust in Him.  Allow Him to lead you with His strong hands, to carry you when you are too weak, and to encourage you all along the way.  Please don't miss the journey.  Take in all that it has to offer.

  ~kathy

Thai Pineapple Fried Rice

Ok, so I know my blog is starting to look like a recipe book, but I have been having fun with some new recipes that are so good, I can't help sharing them! Here's one more...giggle



Yummy, Yum, Yum!! This Thai pineapple fried rice recipe is super good, quick, and easy to make vegetarian or vegan. It's made with Thai Jasmine rice (my favorite), pineapple, peas, cashews, raisins and really anything you want to throw in! Recipe below...Enjoy!!

Serves: 2 as main dish or 5-6 as a side dish

Ingredients:

• 1 small can pineapple chunks, drained, like 1/2 to 1 cup
  
• 3-4 cups leftover cooked rice. (if have to use fresh, refrigerate uncovered for at least an hour)
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 red or green chili, sliced (I subbed 1/4 tsp dried ground red pepper)
• 1 egg (vegans can omit)
• ½ cup frozen peas
• 1 small carrot, grated
  
• ¼ cup raisins or craisins
  
• ½ cup roasted unsalted whole cashews
• green onions, sliced
  
• other veggies per your preference

STIR-FRY SAUCE:

• 4 T Tamari, soy sauce or fish sauce
  
• 3 tsp curry powder
• 1 tsp ginger
  
• 1/3 cup fresh coriander or 1/3 oz dried cilantro
• 1/4 cup vegetable broth
• optional: 1/2 T sugar

1. Mix 1T oil with the rice, using your fingers to separate any chunks into grains. Set aside.
2. In a cup, stir the sauce ingredients together and set aside.
   
3. Heat pan then add 1-2T oil in a wok/large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add shallots, garlic, and chili, stir-frying about 1 minute. If the pan gets dry, add a little stock 1T at a time to keep things sizzling.
4. If using egg, crack into wok and stir quickly.
   
5. Add the carrot and peas stir-frying a min or two.
6. Now add the pineapple chunks, craisins, cashews and stir quickly. Drizzle the sauce mix over the stir-fry. Add the rice and gently stir-fry to combine over medium-high to high heat until the rice "dances" (makes popping sounds) - about 5 to 8 minutes, or until desired lightness is achieved. Tips: Lift rice as you stir, kind of tossing it. Don't add anymore stock from here out or rice will get soggy.
7. Remove from heat. Taste for saltiness, and add a bit of salt or soy sauce for more salt or if too salty, add a bit of lemon or lime juice.
8. To serve, scoop rice onto a serving platter or for authenticity, serve in a hollowed out pineapple.

Spicy Thai Garlic Veggies

This recipe was actually for Thai Garlic Chicken. Since we don't eat chicken, I stir-fried veggies and added the sauce to them, then served over steamed Jasmine rice. Yumilicious!!

3 tbsp. soy sauce
1 1/2 tsp. garlic, minced
2 tsp. sesame oil
1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper
1/4 tsp. ground coriander or cilantro
1 T brown sugar
1 pkg of frozen stir fry veggies
1/2 c. chopped onion
1/2 c. chopped mushrooms (i used baby portabello)
1/4 c. cashews

Serve over Jasmine rice or even couscous

Start your rice. Combine soy sauce, garlic, sesame oil, red pepper, coriander and brown sugar. Set aside. Chop onion and mushrooms. Preheat wok or skillet over high heat. Stir fry veggies for 2 minutes. (if using frozen veggies and water is collecting in pan, drain it off). Pour sauce over veggies and add cashews. Continue to stir fry veggies for 2 to 3 minutes more or until tender. Yum....Dinner time :) Enjoy!

Yummy Mac & Cheese....Vegan style :D

Excellent Mac 'n "Cheese" (totally vegan!)

Ok...so I've been enjoying a vegan diet since June 5, 2011. For the most part I am vastly happy with it and thoroughly enjoying the food and the results to my body and mind.

However, it is winter which in my world equals a deep need for comfort food!! Mine has traditionally been yummy, warm, satisfying mac 'n cheese, oh yea baby!! My conundrum has been that cheese is obviously not a part of my diet any longer, so how do you have mac 'n cheese with no cheese??

Tonight comfort food is back! I was so surprised with the results. Obviously, it is not traditional mac 'n cheese oozing with pounds of cheddar, however, the texture, creaminess and great flavor give it lots of stars and I totally don't miss the oily cheese. Give it a try! Here's the recipe below.


Ingredients:

8 oz. macaroni
1/2 cup onions
1/2 cup potatoes, peeled & chopped
1/4 cup carrots, chopped
1/2 cup red peppers, chopped

1/2 T fresh garlic (about 1 large clove)
1/2 cup raw cashews
1 1/2 tsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp dijon mustard
1/3 c vegan margarine
2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/8 tsp cayenne
1/4 tsp paprika
1/2 cup water from cooking veggies

Directions:
1) Start cooking pasta as directed.

2) Throw chopped veggies (except garlic) in a sauce pan and add water to just cover. Cover with lid and boil until tender.

3) In a food processor, blender or ninja, add garlic, cashews, lemon juice, mustard, margarine, and salt and 1/2 cup of broth from the veggies. Process until very smooth, adding a bit more water if it's too stiff and starts to ball up (should resemble the consistency of creamy peanut butter).
Now, add veggies by scooping them out with a hand-held strainer, and process until smooth, adding more broth or a bit of plain almond milk if it needs to be thinned (should look like a thick gravy). You can also play around with spices that you like.

4) Pour mixture over cooked pasta, tossing thoroughly and spread into a 9 x 12 casserole dish. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs and lightly dust with paprika. Bake for 25-30 min then ENJOY!!

A few notes: Yes, it can be enjoyed immediately rather than baking for all of you impatient mac 'n cheese lovers. :) Also, I have made it with a frozen bag of mixed summer veggies (red pepper, onion, yellow squash, green beans and carrots) because it was all I had and I was jonesing for some mac 'n cheese. I didn't have a potato, so at the end of the sauce blending I added about 1/4 c of potato flakes. It came out yummy!! A great way to enjoy your veggies, for sure!

Dad

I'm not, by nature, a "dweller". I actually tend to push past my feelings and experiences and rush to the new ones. But this morning, once again, I woke thinking of my dad. Fully realizing this was 'the' day. Six years ago today was the last time I heard his voice. It was the last conversation we ever had, the last time I would hear him call me "Sweets". Monday, December 12, 2005 was the day my dad died. Thankfully, it was not the day our love died. I can still feel his love for me and mine for him is as deep as ever. I'm so grateful we don't lose that love the day our earthly goodbyes are said.

Grief is a funny thing. Some people will tell you it gets better with time. That it will slowly lessen and fade. I have not found this to be true at all. Rather I have found that grief can be as strong today as the day I first felt it. At times, grief can be mind-bogglingly powerful, literally overwhelming in its depth. Grief is different than sadness. Sadness, like happiness is circumstantial and can be changed. Grief, grief is forever. Grief is the indelible mark borne on your soul. Grief doesn't negate the love or the person lost, rather it commemorates that love. It stands firm stating for all to see that it was a love that was beyond value, a love that forever changed you, could never be forgotten and was more than worth the pain now felt because they have moved on.

Dad, you are in so many moments of my life, even still. Smiles burst across my face at the memories of your funny quirks and loving ways. Your hands I simply adored, your crazy bowlegged stance I could spot in any crowd, it was the way I knew just which sailor on that huge aircraft carrier deck was my dad. I can see you laying on the floor with your beer and cheese taking in the golf tournament or sitting there letting the girls 'fix' your hair. Your 'papa omelets' are still epic in our house. You taught me to fish, to try new foods, the value of uncompromising loyalty, that deep abiding convictions can be silently honored, that actions speak so much louder than words ever will and mostly, that genetics have absolutely nothing to do with the depth of love you can have for a child. Thank you for calling me your own. Oh, the love you poured into us in such a short time is amazing. Thank you for that, too. Thank you for the 'you-ness' that will never be replaced. Thank you for truly loving me and making me feel so special. I miss you! ~kath

Elijah

Yes , I agree ~

The Jordan is waiting for me to cross through
My heart is aging I can tell
So Lord, I'm begging for one last favor from You
Here's my heart take it where You will

This life has shown me how we're mended and how we're torn
How it's okay to be lonely as long as you're free
Sometimes my ground was stoney
And sometimes covered up with thorns
And only You could make it what it had to be

And now that it's done
Well if they dressed me like a pauper
Or if they dined me like a prince
If they lay me with my fathers
Or if my ashes scatter on the wind, I don't care

But when I leave I want to go out like Elijah
With a whirlwind to fuel my chariot of fire
And when I look back on the stars
It'll be like a candlelight in Central Park
And it won't break my heart to say goodbye

There's people been friendly, but they'd never be your friends
But sometimes this has bent me to the ground
Now that this is all ending
I want to hear some music once again
'Cause it's the finest thing that I have ever found

But the Jordan is waiting, though I ain't never seen the other side
Still they say you can't take in the things you have here
So on the road to salvation
I stick out my thumb and He gives me a ride
And His music is already falling on my ears

There's people been talking
They say they're worried about my soul
Well, I'm here to tell you I'll keep rocking
'Til I'm sure it's my time to roll
And when I do

When I leave I want to go out like Elijah
With a whirlwind to fuel my chariot of fire
And when I look back on the stars
It'll be like a candlelight in Central Park
And it won't break my heart to say goodbye

‘Cause when I leave I want to go out like Elijah
With a whirlwind to fuel my chariot of fire
And when I look back on the stars
It'll be like a candlelight in Central Park
And it won't break my heart to say goodbye

~Rich Mullins (a fabulous songwriter)