Monday, June 27, 2011

My New Diet


Working with naturopathic and medical doctors, I am finding some health issues that require a serious, albeit temporary, change of diet (though I will have to keep certain things in moderation for life so the symptoms do not return). So I'm trying to gradually change over my kitchen along with my diet. Not easy! Here's what I made for supper tonight: Quinoa Casserole and a French Salad. Taste tests are good! We'll see what Peter and Kyla think! :)

Quinoa With Walnuts and Rosemary

Easy Quinoa Stovetop Casserole Recipe, With Walnuts and Rosemary
Quinoa, Walnut and Rosemary Casserole is simple and easy, a hearty & flavorful, light yet filling stovetop casserole recipe.

4 Servings: Preparation time, approximately 45 minutes from start to serving.

Quinoa Casserole Ingredients:
   1/2 cup walnuts, soaked in water for 6 hours or longer - we soak overnight in the fridge, in a covered container, then drain and rinse
   1 c quinoa, soaked 15 minutes, rinsed and drained in a colander
   1 Tbsp olive oil
   1 - 2 garlic cloves
   1 medium carrot, peeled and diced
   1 stalk celery, diced
   1 unsalted veggie bouillon cube
   1 1/2 cups boiling water
   1/4 - 1/2 tsp crushed dried rosemary leaf, or 1 tsp fresh
   1 bay leaf
   Optional: 1/2 tsp salt
   1/2 cup frozen peas (I used mixed vegetables.)
   1/4 cup parsley, minced
   Salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
Directions:

1. Soak the walnuts ahead in the fridge the morning or evening before cooking
2. Soak quinoa 15 minutes to an hour, rinse three times through a fine metal strainer, leave to drain
3. Heat olive oil on medium in a large sauté pan or frying pan
4. Crush, peel, stem, and mince garlic cloves
5. Wash and dice celery (slice lengthwise, then crosswise, in thin slices)
6. Peel and dice carrot (slice lengthwise in four, then crosswise in thin slices)
7. Stir fry garlic, celery and carrot until beginning to brown
8. Shake quinoa to get out any remaining water, add to pan, and sauté until dry
9. Add crushed rosemary leaf, and bay leaf, stir to heat through
10.          Cooking Tip: To 'crush' rosemary, we whizzed whole dried rosemary leaf in our trusty spice grinder (aka coffee grinder). You can also use a mortar and pestle, or just crush it with your fingers
11.          Cooking Tip: If you use a salted bouillon cube for this recipe, you'll need very little added salt. Check the label on the box.
12.          Stir in 1 1/2 cups boiling water, optional salt and bouillon cube, bring to boil, cover and simmer 15 minutes
13.          Add the frozen peas on top, cover and simmer another 10 minutes
14.          Chop walnuts coarsely, mince parsley, and stir into casserole with the peas
15.          Turn off heat, stir in fresh ground pepper to taste, then serve


French Salad with Walnuts, Beets, and Feta Cheese
(by Laura Calder, Food Network)

Ingredients
• 4 endives, quartered and cored (I used Romaine lettuce.)
• 1 medium beet, cooked, peeled and diced
• 6 ounces blue cheese, crumbled (I used Feta.)
• 5 ounces walnuts, broken up a bit and toasted if you like
• 1/2 cup walnut oil (I used olive mixed with vegetable oil.)
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• salt and pepper to season
Directions
3. Separate the endive leaves and fan them out on a plate. Scatter over the beet, blue cheese, and nuts. Whisk together the oil and vinegar. Taste to make sure the balance is right. Season, taste again, then drizzle over the salad. Serve.


Thursday, June 16, 2011

What To Wear...

Recently, I read about someone's shock at seeing shorts and V*ctoria's S*cret sweatshirt sported at an evening wedding! My husband and I talk about this quite often--except we talk about it in regard to church. The question is so pertinent even to that arena: What do you wear to a wedding?

It seems to me that out of respect for the occasion, people would wear their best. (If that's shorts and a sweatshirt, it may be time to do some shopping!) It's sad to me that many people these days would dress up more for a wedding or funeral than they do for church. Why do they dress up for these occasions? Out of respect. {Key word.}

My question is: Why is everyone galloping full-speed-ahead toward casual, "come as you are" at church, when we are meeting with the King of kings? Would one wear shorts and a sweatshirt to meet the President of the United States, the Prime Minister of Canada, or the Queen of England?

Of course, we all know and quote, "the Lord looketh on the heart" (I Samuel 16:7), and obviously that's true. Those who come to church with the "proper look and attire" but are proud and arrogant inside make me sick (Matthew 23:27)--Jesus didn't like it either!

It's also true that we should continually cultivate a love relationship with Christ. Someone will say, "Well, I just think I should be comfortable with the Lord, because it's about relationship; not religion." True, one should always comfortable around their loved one. Yet, at home and in intimate times, isn't the attire different than when one goes to the office?

Isn't there something to be said about one's attitude showing through what one wears (Matthew 22:11-12)? Can we honestly say that a casual approach to church led to a greater respect for God in recent years?

Please, no eggs or tomatoes... It's just food for thought!

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Loving or Unloving?

‎"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love." (I John 4:7-8) 

Knowing God is a continual process. The better I know God, the more loving I can become as I yield to Christ Who is living in me.

I have all the power to love already IN ME. Knowing and understanding God more and more causes the natural effect of my loving others even more than I ever thought possible--even unlovable people, unkind people, or people who don't love me back.

My love for others is not my love... it's Christ's love in me. The love I show indicates that I am "born of God" (saved), but also that I KNOW God on an intimate level... not just "believing IN God." "Believing God" is different than "Believing IN God."

So if I find myself unloving, I don't need to beat myself up and "try harder to love." I need to get to KNOW HIM more. HE is love.

Knowing You, Jesus
Graham Kendrick

All I once held dear, built my life upon,
All this world reveres and wars to own;
All I once thought gain I have counted loss,
Spent and worthless now compared to this:

Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You
There is no greater thing.
You're my all, You're the best,
You're my joy, my righteousness,
And I love You, Lord.

Now my heart's desire is to know You more,
To be found in You and know as Yours;
To possess by faith what I could not earn,
All surpassing gift of righteousness.

Oh to know the power of Your risen life,
And to know You in Your sufferings;
To become like You in Your death, my Lord,
So with You to live and never die.

Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You
There is no greater thing.
You're my all, You're the best,
You're my joy, my righteousness,
And I love You, Lord.
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