July 25, 2011
Food for Thought....
Kelsey and my community group is going through the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan, and this past week we went through chapter 6. I'm not quite agreeing with everything he is saying, but I am enjoying it. At the start of the chapter, he talked about something that I have not quite stoped thinking about.
"When you are truly in love, you go to great lengths to be with the one you love. You'll drive for hours to be together, even if it's only for a short while. You don't mind staying up late to talk. Walking in the rain is romantic, not annoying. You'll willingly spend a small fortune on the one you're crazy about. When you are apart from each other, it's painful, even miserable. He or she is all you think about; you jump at any chance to be together.
In his book God Is the Gosple, John Piper essentially asks whether we are in love with God:
'The critical question for our generation--and for every generation--is this: if you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natureal beauties you ever saw, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflict or any natural disasters, could you be satisfied with heaven, if Christ was not there?'"
I don't know about you, but what Francis Chan is talking about... I've been there! I know what that feels like, to talk to someone for hours, can't wait to send time with them, drive hours to be together. I've done that! But my quetion is this. If I was like that with my boyfriend, why am I not like that with God? How come I don't wake up early or stay up late to talk with God? How come I'm not longing to spend time with Him in my quiet time? How come I'm buying shoes, rather than buying a book that would teach me more about His sovereign grace? I want to be that way. I want to be satisfied in Christ alone! What would Heaven be without Him???? In Christ alone my hope is found. He is my light, my strength, my song. This Cornerstone, this solid ground. Firm through the fiercest drought and storm!
"When you are truly in love, you go to great lengths to be with the one you love. You'll drive for hours to be together, even if it's only for a short while. You don't mind staying up late to talk. Walking in the rain is romantic, not annoying. You'll willingly spend a small fortune on the one you're crazy about. When you are apart from each other, it's painful, even miserable. He or she is all you think about; you jump at any chance to be together.
In his book God Is the Gosple, John Piper essentially asks whether we are in love with God:
'The critical question for our generation--and for every generation--is this: if you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natureal beauties you ever saw, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflict or any natural disasters, could you be satisfied with heaven, if Christ was not there?'"
I don't know about you, but what Francis Chan is talking about... I've been there! I know what that feels like, to talk to someone for hours, can't wait to send time with them, drive hours to be together. I've done that! But my quetion is this. If I was like that with my boyfriend, why am I not like that with God? How come I don't wake up early or stay up late to talk with God? How come I'm not longing to spend time with Him in my quiet time? How come I'm buying shoes, rather than buying a book that would teach me more about His sovereign grace? I want to be that way. I want to be satisfied in Christ alone! What would Heaven be without Him???? In Christ alone my hope is found. He is my light, my strength, my song. This Cornerstone, this solid ground. Firm through the fiercest drought and storm!
July 24, 2011
July 23, 2011
Parmesan-Dijon Chicken
Two nights ago I made Parmesan-Dijon Chicken. AMAZING! The whole fam said it's a keeper, and it's extremely easy! My mom sent it to me by email.
It calls for;
- 1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
- 2 Tbs Dijon mustard
- 3/4 cup dry bread crumbs (any flavor)
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 6 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (1 3/4 lb)
Heat oven to 375. Mix butter and mustard in shallow dish until well mixed. Mix bread crumbs and cheese in large plastic bag.
Dip one piece of chicken at a time into butter mixture, coating all sides. Then place in bag of bread crumbs, seal bag and shake to coat with crumbs mixture. Place chicken in single layer in ungreased rectangular pan, 13x9x2 inches.
Bake uncovered 20 to 30 minutes, turning once, until juice of chicken is no longer pink when center of thickest pieces are out.
We made broccoli and mashed potatoes to go along with it.
Bon appetit!
(Sorry, forgot to take a picture.)
It calls for;
- 1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
- 2 Tbs Dijon mustard
- 3/4 cup dry bread crumbs (any flavor)
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 6 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (1 3/4 lb)
Heat oven to 375. Mix butter and mustard in shallow dish until well mixed. Mix bread crumbs and cheese in large plastic bag.
Dip one piece of chicken at a time into butter mixture, coating all sides. Then place in bag of bread crumbs, seal bag and shake to coat with crumbs mixture. Place chicken in single layer in ungreased rectangular pan, 13x9x2 inches.
Bake uncovered 20 to 30 minutes, turning once, until juice of chicken is no longer pink when center of thickest pieces are out.
We made broccoli and mashed potatoes to go along with it.
Bon appetit!
(Sorry, forgot to take a picture.)
July 20, 2011
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
I really like this passage.
"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (ESV)
"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (ESV)
Southwestern Beef Chili with Corn
Last night, frim my Real Simple cookbook, I made Southwestern Beef Chili with Corn. It was amazing!!!
It has;
- 1 Tbs olive oil
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 poblano or bell pepper, chopped
- 1/2 lb ground beef
- 2 Tbs tomato paste
- 2 15oz cans black beans, rinsed
- 1 Tbs chili powder
- Kosher salt and black pepper
- 1/2 cup corn kernels (from 1 ear, or frozen and thawed)
- 1/2 cup grated Cheddar (2oz)
- 2 scallions, sliced
Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the carrots, onions, and pablano and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes. Add the beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until no longer pink, 3 to 5 minutes.Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring, until it is slightly darkened, 1 minute. Stir in the beans, chili powder, 3 cups water, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp pepper. Simmer over medium heat until the vegetables are tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in the corn.
Divide the chili among bowls and top with the Cheddar and Scallions.
*I ended up using 1 lb of beef rather than 1/2, so because of that we used 1 Tbs more of the tomato paste, a little more chili powder, and the whole can of corn.
*We didn't have a whole bell pepper, so I used half a green and half a yellow. But mom and I were talking about next time using half a green along with a red. Make it more colorful!
Family all said it's a keeper!
On another note, in the proscess of making it, I got pepper juice in my eye. It has never failed that when I cook with peppers, I get it in my eye. I'm considering wearing goggles next time. haha
Bon appetit!
It has;
- 1 Tbs olive oil
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 poblano or bell pepper, chopped
- 1/2 lb ground beef
- 2 Tbs tomato paste
- 2 15oz cans black beans, rinsed
- 1 Tbs chili powder
- Kosher salt and black pepper
- 1/2 cup corn kernels (from 1 ear, or frozen and thawed)
- 1/2 cup grated Cheddar (2oz)
- 2 scallions, sliced
Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the carrots, onions, and pablano and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes. Add the beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until no longer pink, 3 to 5 minutes.Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring, until it is slightly darkened, 1 minute. Stir in the beans, chili powder, 3 cups water, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp pepper. Simmer over medium heat until the vegetables are tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in the corn.
Divide the chili among bowls and top with the Cheddar and Scallions.
*I ended up using 1 lb of beef rather than 1/2, so because of that we used 1 Tbs more of the tomato paste, a little more chili powder, and the whole can of corn.
*We didn't have a whole bell pepper, so I used half a green and half a yellow. But mom and I were talking about next time using half a green along with a red. Make it more colorful!
Family all said it's a keeper!
On another note, in the proscess of making it, I got pepper juice in my eye. It has never failed that when I cook with peppers, I get it in my eye. I'm considering wearing goggles next time. haha
Bon appetit!
Swiss Chicken
Last week (don't remember the day) I made Swiss Chicken from Southside Church Richmond's (now Kingsway) cookbook Taste and See. My mom has made it in the past and we all love it, but this was my first attempt.
It calls for;
- 6 chicken breast halves
- 1/8 tsp garlic powder
- 1/8 tsp pepper
- 6 slices swiss cheese
- 1 (10 3/4 oz) can cream of chicken soup
- 1/4 cup milk
- 2 cups herb-seasoned stuffing mix
- 1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
Place Chicken in greased 13x9x2-inch baking dish. Sprinkle with garlic powder and pepper. Top each breast with cheese slice; set aside. Combine soup and milk, stirring until smooth. Pour over chicken. Sprinkle with stuffing mix and drizzle with butter. Bake chicken at 350 for 50 minutes or until chicken is done.
Along with this I made Broiled Asparagus to go along with it. Very good!
(Sorry, no picture.)
Bon appetit!
It calls for;
- 6 chicken breast halves
- 1/8 tsp garlic powder
- 1/8 tsp pepper
- 6 slices swiss cheese
- 1 (10 3/4 oz) can cream of chicken soup
- 1/4 cup milk
- 2 cups herb-seasoned stuffing mix
- 1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
Place Chicken in greased 13x9x2-inch baking dish. Sprinkle with garlic powder and pepper. Top each breast with cheese slice; set aside. Combine soup and milk, stirring until smooth. Pour over chicken. Sprinkle with stuffing mix and drizzle with butter. Bake chicken at 350 for 50 minutes or until chicken is done.
Along with this I made Broiled Asparagus to go along with it. Very good!
(Sorry, no picture.)
Bon appetit!
July 18, 2011
Cooking Adventures in June
Here starts my Cooking Adventures in our new home, but also the start of my adventures in Richmond.
-Chicken Casserole
This is former Auburn player, Washington Redskins' QB (now Raiders), Jason
Campbell. (Raiders tend to get Auburn players. haha) This was very, very easy, and
everyone loved it! Along with it I made broccoli and corn.
![]()
-Chocolate Chip Cookies
This recipe I got from my Food Network app from my iPhone. These aren't just any
ordinary chocolate chip cookies. They are sooooo good. Don't believe me? Ask my
family!
![]()
-Irish Soda Bread
My mom sent this one to me by email. It's an Irish recipe! It would be a great thing
to make when you have someone over for coffee in the morning. I didn't put any
raisins because we didn't have any, but I think it would add a little more flavore to
it.
![]()
-Barbecue Beef and Corn Shepherd's Pie
Once again this is a recipe my mom sent me, and an Irish one. It's very easy to
make... and it's a one dish recipe at that! (my favorite kind! haha) It's
great if you are needing to go somewhere after dinner, such as community group...
like I was.
(Sorry, no picture)
-Buffalo Chicken and Potatoes
Here is another recipe sent by my mother. Not everyone liked it because of the hot
wing sauce, but dad and I thought it was pretty good.
(Sorry, no picture)
-Speghetti with Bacon and Eggs
This was amazing! It's from my Real Simple cookbook, and our first thought was we
wouldn't like it... but we loved it! Lots of flavore! Dad and I like our fried eggs to not
be cooked all the way, with the yoke still runny (or as we call it a sloppy chicken).
That made it very good!
![]()
-Chicken Casserole
This is former Auburn player, Washington Redskins' QB (now Raiders), Jason
Campbell. (Raiders tend to get Auburn players. haha) This was very, very easy, and
everyone loved it! Along with it I made broccoli and corn.
-Chocolate Chip Cookies
This recipe I got from my Food Network app from my iPhone. These aren't just any
ordinary chocolate chip cookies. They are sooooo good. Don't believe me? Ask my
family!
-Irish Soda Bread
My mom sent this one to me by email. It's an Irish recipe! It would be a great thing
to make when you have someone over for coffee in the morning. I didn't put any
raisins because we didn't have any, but I think it would add a little more flavore to
it.
-Barbecue Beef and Corn Shepherd's Pie
Once again this is a recipe my mom sent me, and an Irish one. It's very easy to
make... and it's a one dish recipe at that! (my favorite kind! haha) It's
great if you are needing to go somewhere after dinner, such as community group...
like I was.
(Sorry, no picture)
-Buffalo Chicken and Potatoes
Here is another recipe sent by my mother. Not everyone liked it because of the hot
wing sauce, but dad and I thought it was pretty good.
(Sorry, no picture)
-Speghetti with Bacon and Eggs
This was amazing! It's from my Real Simple cookbook, and our first thought was we
wouldn't like it... but we loved it! Lots of flavore! Dad and I like our fried eggs to not
be cooked all the way, with the yoke still runny (or as we call it a sloppy chicken).
That made it very good!
Cooking Adventures in May
Since the move, I haven't been staying on top of blogging... as I'm sure you gathered. Because of that, I am going to post all my Cooking Adventures by the month. I'll post the name of the dish, along with the side and a picture. But if you would like the recipe of one, feel free to email. I'm hoping from here on out, I'll stay on top of it. Enjoy!
- Lemon and Cracked Pepper Chicken
This is San Francisco 49ers' Patrick Willis's recipe. It's very easy, and the whole
family loved it. Along with it I made the following side...
- Broiled Asparagus
From my Real Simple cookbook, this as well was very easy! And is now a family
favorite. We make it all the time.
![]()
- Sugar cookies
I got this recipe from my Food Network app on my iPhone. One thing I like about
this recipe more than others, they are very gooie and are not as sweet as most sugar
cookies. They are also great with coffee!
![]()
- Pork wtih sauteed Granny Smith apples
This recipe is also from my Real Simple cookbook, and is very... well, different.
Some of the family liked it... others did not. But Diego and Lili loved it. One thing I
would add is cute the apples in sliced rather than halves. It would give it a little
more apple flavore. With it I made mashed potatos.
![]()
- Lemon and Cracked Pepper Chicken
This is San Francisco 49ers' Patrick Willis's recipe. It's very easy, and the whole
family loved it. Along with it I made the following side...
- Broiled Asparagus
From my Real Simple cookbook, this as well was very easy! And is now a family
favorite. We make it all the time.
- Sugar cookies
I got this recipe from my Food Network app on my iPhone. One thing I like about
this recipe more than others, they are very gooie and are not as sweet as most sugar
cookies. They are also great with coffee!
- Pork wtih sauteed Granny Smith apples
This recipe is also from my Real Simple cookbook, and is very... well, different.
Some of the family liked it... others did not. But Diego and Lili loved it. One thing I
would add is cute the apples in sliced rather than halves. It would give it a little
more apple flavore. With it I made mashed potatos.
This Is Love
For the first time ever I am reading I Kissed Dating Goodbye by Josh Harris. I read his book Boy Meets Girl right before I entered a relationship, and loved it. Since there are no guys in my sight (other than Blake Griffin, heehee), I thought it would be good to read this.
In the first chapter, he talks about what it truly means to love someone.
"In 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, Paul writes:
For the love of Christ controls us, beacuse we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. (ESV)
The Bible teaches that if we truly trust in Jesus Christ, we die to our old ways of living. And we can no longer live for ourselves--we now live for God and for the good of others.
Because of that, relationships with the opposite sex can no longer be about "having a good time" or "learning what I want in a relationship". They're mpt tp ne anpit getting, but giving. Every relationship for a Christian is an opportunity to love another person like God has loved us. To lay down our desires and do what's in his or her best interest. To care for him or her even when there's nothing in it for us. To want that person's purity and holiness because it pleases God and protects him or her."
In chapter two he says,
"The best relationships are between two people who care more about each other's good than their own momentary pleasure. The Little Relationship Principle" (The joy of intimacy is the reward of commitment.) "won't make romance risk-free or foolproof. But it can guide and direct us toward healthy, God-pleasing relationships. And it can help us obey the second great command to love others as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:39). "
In the first chapter, he talks about what it truly means to love someone.
"In 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, Paul writes:
For the love of Christ controls us, beacuse we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. (ESV)
The Bible teaches that if we truly trust in Jesus Christ, we die to our old ways of living. And we can no longer live for ourselves--we now live for God and for the good of others.
Because of that, relationships with the opposite sex can no longer be about "having a good time" or "learning what I want in a relationship". They're mpt tp ne anpit getting, but giving. Every relationship for a Christian is an opportunity to love another person like God has loved us. To lay down our desires and do what's in his or her best interest. To care for him or her even when there's nothing in it for us. To want that person's purity and holiness because it pleases God and protects him or her."
In chapter two he says,
"The best relationships are between two people who care more about each other's good than their own momentary pleasure. The Little Relationship Principle" (The joy of intimacy is the reward of commitment.) "won't make romance risk-free or foolproof. But it can guide and direct us toward healthy, God-pleasing relationships. And it can help us obey the second great command to love others as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:39). "
July 17, 2011
July 16, 2011
July 10, 2011
The Pros of Journaling
Within the last two weeks, God has been opening my eyes to His grace more and more. And it's only by His grace that this can happen! A year ago this month, different things happened in my life. So, I've been reading my journal enteries from last year... just to look at where I was and how God was working in my life. And He (and once again, it's only by His grace) has done a work in my life! It's so cool, to look back and see all that He has done. And even to look back on the last 3 years... yes, He let me go through some really hard times, but to see the story He is writing in my life is amazing! He really does have everything planned out!
I love the verses in 2 Corinthians (12:9-10) "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weakness, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insult, hardship, persecutions, and clamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." Isn't that a comforting thought?
I love the verses in 2 Corinthians (12:9-10) "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weakness, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insult, hardship, persecutions, and clamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." Isn't that a comforting thought?
July 09, 2011
July 01, 2011
A Snapshot from Life
06/28/2011 - Candle shopping at a "jar-normous" sale with great friends, and coming out with 3 for the price of 1... priceless! (Well, it did cost something, but it's the memories that count! haha)
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