DISAPPEARED - BUT NOT FOR SO LONG I FORGOT!

No - I have not forsaken my faithful readers - of course, by now - they may have all moved on to bigger and better blogs.  Believe me - I have seen some wonderful ones since I have been looking at and posting from Pinterest - and I think those may have intimidated me to the point I was not happy with mine.  But with that said - let me tell you what I have going on right this moment!  I am roasting red and yellow bell peppers, along with a jalapeno and a tomato.  I cut the peppers, tomato, and pepper in half, wiped the outside with olive oil, placed them face down on a foil covered pan and put them in the oven with the broiler on high.  They smell so good and are almost charred which is what they must be to be able to peel them and have that wonderful roasted flavor.  In about 3 minutes they will come out of the oven and be put in a brown paper bag for about 20 minutes.  Then the skin should just fall right off and they will be ready to be used.   What am I  going to do with all of those peppers.  I am going to attempt to make Red Pepper Soup.  Travis and I went to Fredericksburg last weekend and we had dinner one night at the restaurant at Trios Village.  It was an awesome meal and after some Bruchetta that was the best we had ever had, we were served the Red Pepper Soup.  I have looked at about a dozen or two recipes and none seem to exactly capture the recipe Chef Elvis (can you believe that?) used or created -- so Chef JC is going to create her own -- just by the few things I was able to get out of the waiter!!  Ummmm - the kitchen smells so good and peppers look so good! After I get it made and we think it really passes the taste test - I will give you the recipe! 


Beautiful charred peppers!!

Travis is going to be gone the first three days of the week, but  on either Monday or Tuesday, I am going to make Sweet Potato Soup - and I know it is good because I have had it before!

SWEET POTATO SOUP

INGREDIENTS: 
2 Large Sweet Potatoes
1 Onion, chopped
1 Granny Apple, chopped
1-1/2  tsp. ground cumin
2 Cups Water
2 Tablespoons concentrated Apple Juice
1-1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/8th tsp. cinnamon
Plain Greek Yogurt
Fresh Cilantro

DIRECTIONS:
1.  Peel and chop 3/4 pound sweet potatoes (2 large)
2.  Peel and chop one onion
3.  Peel and chop one Granny Smith apple
Set aside.

4.  In a heavy pot or dutch oven, toast 1-1/2 tsp. of ground cumin over medium high heat.   Shake the pan or stir until it becomes fragrant (only about 3 minutes.)
5.  Add 2 Cups of water, 2 Tablespoons frozen concentrated apple juice, salt, pepper, cinnamon, and chopped vegetables.
6.  Bring to a boil; cover, reduce the heat to low and simmer until sweet potatoes are soft.  (Takes about 20 minutes.)
7.  Transfer to a blender or food processor and puree.  Be sure and allow the steam a place to escape or use the hand held stick blender.
8.  Pour back into the original pot and add 1/2 cup skim milk.  Stir and reheat.
9.  Garnish with a spoon of plain Greek Yogurt and fresh cilantro.

This is very rich (but not in a fat way), creamy and filling.  It could be a main course with salad and good crusty bread.  This soup really is so good!!!

Now here are some words of encouragement that my cousin sent me.  I think they are worth repeating!
After “Fighting the good Fight”
                                              1Timothy 6:12

“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.”

Some of the greatest spiritual defeats you will ever have will follow some of your highest spiritual victories. Jonah, Moses, and Elijah—all these men learned this. Why does this happen?

Because we are tired and feel we can just coast awhile. We think, “Didn’t God bless and give us a great victory?” But what we forget is that the devil is clever. He knows just when to pull the rug out from under us.

Let me give you a little advice: Although the remaining effects of yesterday’s blessing will bless you, you cannot coast on yesterday’s blessings. God has made you so that you cannot live by experiences. You must live by Jesus Christ one day at a time.

 Every day you experience victory, be on your guard. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”(1Peter5:8) This is the time to be “on alert,” and more submitted than ever to Jesus as Lord.  

“The sprit of God uses the word of God to make the child of God more like the Son of God.”

Ok - post note on the Red Pepper Soup!  Had to wait until after church to peel the peppers and then it was too late to start the soup -- so recipe will come later  ---BUT -- here is something I learned - something important:  after you take the peppers out of the sack -- don't try to peel with warm water - makes the task very hard - but if you use cold water, the skins come right off!  I also roasted some garlic at the same time - but after coating with olive oil, I wrapped the cloves in foil and put them on the same time I roasted the peppers.  Oh - one more thing -- about the brown paper bags -- I had been told to use brown paper bag and then some had said use a plastic bag.  Well the peppers got the paper bag so wet, that when I picked the bag up - the bottom fell out --- so I recommend the plastic bag!!  Oh - and the roasted garlic -- good enough to put on ice cream.  Roasting the garlic brings out a very rich, sweet tasting paste when clove is pressed. Enough cooking for the evening.  Have a great week and do something wonderful for someone else!  And may God watch over each of you until we visit again!!!

No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oat Bars and Other Recipes

No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oat Bars

Good evening!  See the link above this line -- it is a fabulous recipe!  A friend brought it to a party tonight and it was great - and I don't even like chocolate -- but the peanut butter took care of that!!  You have to try it!   I am still trying to figure out how to pin it on my pinterest "Favorite recipes) board!

It has been a wonderful weekend -- did some things I haven't done in 50 years - wow that is a long time - but yes - I am a little older than that!  Uck!!!!  Attended a lovely 50 Anniversary reception for a lovelier couple, and a super bowl party tonight with wonderful friends!  How good God is to give us all of the opportunities - and wonderful friends!

I made a hit dip tonight.  It is not original - Sweet Gourmet published it to email followers this past week. 

SPICY SHRIMP AVOCADO DIP

2 Avocados halved
1 - 8 oz. block of cream cheese, softened to room temp.
1 lb. mall frozen precooked shrimp without tails (WalMart has them) (thawed - I use the salad size)
1 small jar of Prairie Creek Salsa (from Sweet Gourmet)

Mix salsa with cream cheese by hand until well blended.  Add shrimp.  Scoop out avocado meat and cut into small pieces.  Fold in avocado gently.  Chill 30 minutes prior to serving with your choice of cracker, chip or sliced baguette lightly toasted.  (I used SIMPLY NAKED (a brand) Pita Chips.)

Make it - sit back and enjoy the compliments!!

I also made another SWEET GOURMET recipe:

SWEET AND HOT SAUSAGE BITES

1 jar of Mills Company Jalapeno Jelly (Sweet Gourmet)
1 pkg. link style sausage -- I used Oscar Meyers Turkey -- they recommend Cap Ranch German Style that they sell)

Slice sausage on the diagnal into 1/2 inch pieces.  Place in skillet and brown on both sides.  Browning will add flavor and help cook out a little of the fat.  (The turkey didn't have any fat!)  Drain off fat from skillet.  Pour jar of jelly over sausage pieces and continue to heat until jelly is syrup form.  Remove from heat and pour into  smallcrockpot or chaffing dish.  Keep warm and serve with toothpicks in a small container beside dish. 

These were really good!!!

I went to Lifeway yesterday and bought the video "Not A Fan" by Kyle Idleman.  We have been watching it on Wednesday nights and it is really thought provoking.  Travis is helping with puppets and not getting to watch it - and I missed the night I cooked so I want us to watch all of it.  Then I boought the book - on sale for $5.00.  It really makes you think about your own dedication and if we just proclaim we love Jesus or do we really follow Him.

Here are some more thoughts:

                   Submission and Humility

                                                  1 Peter 5:5

“Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elders. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.”

To be “clothed” in 1 Peter 5:5 means to tie a knot of put on a servant’s apron. Basically this verse tells us to tie on the apron of a slave and be humble.

Why do you think Peter used that figure of speech? I think it was because Jesus laid aside His garments, girded Himself with a towel, and washed their feet. But “Peter saith unto Him, ‘Thou shalt never wash my feet. ‘Jesus answered him, ‘If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with Me,’ “ John 13:8

There are two lessons here: We must be clothed in humility. You can’t look down on somebody when you’re washing their feet. And even though we are saved, we walk in a dirty world. We need to come to Jesus daily to cleanse us from our sins, restore and refresh us.

Have a great evening -- try the recipes and reap the rewards.  Do something great this week - help your neighbor!!! 

THURSDAY - CLOSING IN ON WEEKEND

Wow!  It is already Thursday and only one more day until the weekend!  I can’t believe I am just now getting to write but every night I seemed to get busy (Pinterest takes a lot of time!) and look up and it is already after 10 p.m., and my brain is going to sleep!

Have you seen the move “COURAGOUS?” I missed it at the theatre but bought it and it is really a good movie!  I recommend it!

You know you can just drive down the streets and see that this indeed is a “fallen world.”  Just this morning  on my way  to work, there was a man (probably in 40’s or 50’s) walking down the sidewalk, turned in at Sonic, walked all the way around it, came out into the street, walked up the center for a distance, and then went on across the street.  You could tell he was just walking aimlessly, with no place in mind to go!  It is really sad to just open your eyes and look around!  I know I immediately just thanked God for the blessing he has given me. 

I am going to repost a couple of recipes that are true winners – and even I often can’t find a recipe that I posted a year ago on this blog.  The first is what I call my “Mile High Chocolate Pie.”  It gets lots of raves and disappears quickly!

 
                                                      MILE HIGH CHOCOLATE PIE
                                                                             Jon Carole Gilbreath
1-1/4 cup sugar
½ cup all purpose flour
½ tsp. salt
½ cup cocoa
4 egg yolks - beat well
2 Cups milk (2% or whole works best)
½ stick of butter
1 tsp. vanilla
1 Cooked Pie Crust for 9 inch pie

Combine the sugar, flour, salt and cocoa in medium sized sauce pan and stir until well blended.

Beat egg yolks until well combined and add to the 2 cups milk.  Slowly stir a small amount of milk into the sugar/flour mixture and stir until well blended and smooth.  Slowly add the remaining milk, careful to not have lumps of chocolate or flour left.  Add the butter.  Turn heat to medium and continue stirring mixture.  Once all is well blended and butter starts to melt, turn the heat up enough to get the mixture hot enough to start to bubble and thicken.  Allow to cook 2 minutes until nice and thick.  Remove from stove and add vanilla flavoring.  Then immediately pour into crust or leave in saucepan, but quickly cover either with plastic wrap and press it down against the filling. Once the Mile High Meringue is ready, remove the plastic wrap and pile the meringue onto the pie, making sure it touches the crust all the way around.  (I like to fluff the icing up to show it off)  Place in 350 degree oven and check after about 10 minutes.  Continue to cook until meringue is golden brown!

MILE HIGH MERINGUE

6 egg whites (use four left from eggs to make filling, plus 2 more)
1 Tablespoon baking powder (yes, baking powder is much better than Cream of Tarter)
2/3 cup sugar
½ tsp. vanilla
Combine the egg whites, baking powder, and vanilla in mixer and beat on high until the meringue begins to make soft peaks.  Slowly, slowly add the sugar and continue beating until nice peaks will stand up.  Be careful and don’t beat too long or it will become dry and will separate on the cake.

Place on top of pie filling and bake for 10 to 20 minutes until golden brown.  Everyone will be envious of the tall and beautiful pie!

The other one is my Hash Brown Potato Casserole, another favorite that goes well with almost all meats!

 HASH BROWN POTATO CASSEROLE

                                                                                Jon Carole Gilbreath
1-32 oz. pkg. frozen country style (with onions and peppers)
1 can cream of mushroom soup
12 oz. grated cheddar or American (I prefer the Mexican Style)
1- 8 oz. sour cream
1 tsp. salt
½ tsp. pepper
2 cloves garlic, pressed
¼ tsp. cayenne pepper* optional (I always use!!)
½ onion, chopped

2 cups crushed corn flakes – good seasoned with garlic salt, dash of anything else to give it flavor (or what I do for company is buy one package “Potato Toppers” and use that and 1 cup of crushed corn flakes!)

1/2 cup melted butter

Place thawed potatoes in a 9 X 13 inch casserole dish.  Mix together the next 8 ingredients and pour over potatoes.  Top with corn flakes, and drizzle melted butter over all.  Bake uncovered, at 350 degrees for 45 minutes to one hour.

Here is something to think about!

Defense Attorney Has Been Appointed For You

When a person is in jail and cannot afford an attorney, the county will appoint one.

If he is lucky, he might get my dear friend Keith Orsburn (Ors-burn) (if the inmate calls him Osborn he will refuse to represent him) Just kidding, but he is touchy.

1 John 2:1

“My little children, these things write I to you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”

The way to deal with your sins is for you to confess---that means, you are to begin by agreeing with God as to what He says about your sin. You need to also confidently deal with your sin. Now, what do I mean by that?

 You have your Attorney who has been appointed you when you go into the judge’s chambers for adjudication. According to God’s word, you have an Advocate, which is another name for attorney.

The devil is the prosecuting attorney who points the accusing finger at us and says, “Look at him!” And Jesus the defense attorney, stands by our side and says, “But Father, look at Me. I shed My blood for him.” Because Jesus died, our debt is paid. Though our sins are as scarlet, He will wash them white as snow!

Jesus comes and says “Today, Let Me be your Advocate, if not then tomorrow I will be your Righteous Judge!!” See you at the Great White Throne! Rev.20:11

          “May the Lamb that was slain receive the rewards of His suffering.”

Have a wonderful evening and enjoy your weekend.  Check out my boards on Pinterest – lots of neat ideas, recipes, and quotes.