A few days ago, I decided that I would make chicken tacos for my son and I, and then vegan crumble tacos for my daughter. Well, that would have been possible if I had tortilla shells at home. I had everything but tortilla shells and chips. Go figure! Since it was later in the day, I adlibbed on a meal for my daughter, and then my creative juices were flowing as far as trying to figure out what I would come up with for my son and I.
I decided to make what I call Garlic Butter Chicken Sandwiches. They were mouth watering good. I hope that you enjoy them and have a blessed rest of your week.
Activity: Making Garlic Butter Chicken Sandwiches for Lunch and Dinner
Total Prepping and Cooking Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients:
(2) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
(1) container of sour cream
(1) container of mild salsa
(1) teaspoon of onion powder
(1) teaspoon of oregano
(4) tablespoons of vegan butter
(1) teaspoon of garlic powder
(1) jar of minced garlic
(1) teaspoon of parsley
(1) pack of Artisan hamburger buns
(Optional): Shredded carrots
Directions:
Cut up the two chicken breasts into small chunks.
Pour the butter into a skillet, along with the minced garlic.
Dump the chicken into the skillet, along with all of the seasonings, and saute the chicken for about twenty to twenty-five minutes.
While the chicken is sauteing, place the buns in the oven to toast for about ten minutes.
Place the chunks of chicken on each bun, pouring extra butter as to moisten the bread.
Add sour cream, and then salsa on top, with shredded carrots being optional for the last topping.
Enjoy and have a blessed evening!
It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High:
2 To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night,
3 Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound.
4 For thou, Lord, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands.
5 O Lord, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep.
The story of Leah and Rachel is one that we can all relate to in life: the comparison trap. Their trap probably started at a young age, and unfortunately went into adulthood. Sometimes as parents we have to be extra careful not to be the catalyst for this type of thing happening. The sad reality of their family dysfunction showed that they were filled with constant thoughts of “let me see how I can one up you.” Round one began with “I’ll take your man”. Round two began with, ” I can have more kids than you”. This trap affects both men and women alike, and it ruins families, friendships, and work relationships. The comparison trap has several things that lie at the root. The three that God has spoken to me about are rejection, self-worth, and contentment.
When we read the story of Leah and Rachel, there are several things that we can directly and indirectly perceive. The first thing perceived is that beauty and popularity won hearts. People often shy away from us when we don’t fit into their standard for beauty, dress, hairstyle, etc. If this is our area of brokenness, not fitting into someone else’s standards could lead to insecurity and internalization as rejection. There are two sections of verses that tell us that one of Leah’s issues was rejection. Here is the first:
Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel had a lovely figure and was beautiful. Genesis 29:16-17, NIV
The second section of scripture tells us about why Leah became fruitful right away:
30 And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.
31 And when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren. Genesis 29:30-31, NIV
We see that self-worth comes into play because Leah mentions on more than one occasion that her husband would love her now that God had opened her womb. We see how the phrase, “Oh, but he will love me since I’m pregnant with his child” worked out even then. She said nothing about God loving her, and his love for her being enough.
32 And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the Lord hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.
34 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi.
Genesis 29: 32, 34, KJV
In verse 35 of Genesis, it seems as though Leah has finally resolved to be content in the state that she was in:
35 And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the Lord: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing. Genesis 29: 35, KJV
So we thought. Unfortunately this was Leah’s and Rachel’s stronghold. Right after Leah’s place of contentment, her sister Rachel can’t stand the fact that insists that Jacob sleeps with her handmaid so that she could have children, and since Leah had left child bearing, she followed suit in doing the same:
8 Rachel said, “I have had a great struggle with my sister, and I have won!” So she named him Naphtali [My Struggle].
9 When Leah saw that she had stopped having children, she took her slave Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as his wife.
Genesis 30: 8-9, GW
The vicious cycle of rejection, no self-worth, and discontentment started up again:
13 Leah said, “I’ve been blessed! Women will call me blessed.” So she named him Asher [Blessing]. Genesis 30:13, KJV
20 And Leah said, God hath endued me with a good dowry; now will my husband dwell with me, because I have born him six sons: and she called his name Zebulun. Genesis 30:20, KJV
Strongholds are hard to get rid of. Like Leah, I was born with a weak eye. I had to wear a patch over my other eye in order for my brain to train my weak eye to use itself, and prevent blindness. I remember the whole process as being quite traumatic: siting in doctor’s offices for 5 to 6 hours, eye exams, a patch, more eye exams, and then eye dilation, and leaving the doctor’s office. I felt helpless as I was walking across the street with my mom, while holding her hand to wait for the bus.
Fast forward some years later, like Leah, I dealt with the feelings of rejection due to abandonment by my father, and then feelings of rejection due to the comment that another teenage girl made in response to my physical appearance. I internalized this comment, and it was used as a tool to produce no self-worth, leading to seeking approval through high achievement in school, through others, and my ex-husband. It also led to years of being in an emotionally abusive marriage, where I sought him for a good portion of my self-worth.
Getting caught up in shopping and other things in order to improve my appearance, and feel like I could qualify to compete, only kept the cycle going. There will always be someone who’s prettier, smarter, and dresses better. We have to be safe and secure in who we are in Christ, knowing that this brings true contentment and self-worth, no matter what other people are saying or thinking. We are all broken individuals in need of a Savior, and God loves us much more than anyone else ever could.
Dear God,
We thank you in advance for rescuing us from the comparison trap. We also thank you that only in you, are we enough. Otherwise, we might become filled with self-pride, criticism, and judgment. Please help us to break free of this stronghold.
Good evening everyone! Just about a week ago, I posted a grits with quinoa casserole brunch dish. And of course, this week I made it again, with a little twist. Thought I would let you know, just in case you thought you were losing it. I hope that you are feeling brave about trying it out. What I love about this version, is the crunch on top, along with the smell of the cheese, sunflower seed, and coconut mix in the oven. Enjoy and be blessed!
Coconut Grits with Quinoa Casserole
Activity: Making Coconut Grits with Quinoa Casserole for Breakfast and/or Brunch
Total Prepping and Cooking Time: 40 minutes
Ingredients:
(2) cups of grits
(1/2) cup of quinoa
(1) teaspoon of onion powder
(1) teaspoon of garlic powder
(1/2) cup of cheddar cheese or vegan cheese
(1/4) cup of grapeseed, butter, or whatever oil you have
(1/2) cup of soymilk or almond milk
(1) tablespoon of parsley
(1/4) cup of rice
(1/4) cup of sunflower seeds
(1/4) cup of cheddar cheese or vegan cheese for the top
(1/4) cup of coconut flakes
Directions:
Bring three cups of water to a boil.
Bring one-fourth cup of rice to a boil.
Boil the quinoa for twenty minutes.
Add two cups of grits to the boiling water.
Stir the grits ever so often with a whisk.
Add the milk, butter, cheese, quinoa, seasoning, and parsley to the pot and whisk together.
Sprinkle the rice, then sunflowers seeds and coconut flakes on top.
Add an extra layer of cheese and parsley to the top.
Bake at 365 degrees for 22 minutes in a casserole dish.
Cut into squares after ten minutes.
Makes 7 servings.
Enjoy!
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
I love the story of Joseph, and I love how God’s favor was all over his life. When I think about Joseph’s coat, it makes me think about my favorite coat as a kid. It was coral blue with a red heart just below each shoulder. I called it my “Heart to Heart” coat. It is good to know that even when we are in our worst of times, God’s favor can still rise above the situation. God can still put us in situations where people are doing things for us, and they don’t even know why they are doing them. Praise God for his favor!
2 The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. 3 And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand. 4 So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority. 5 So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had in the house and in the field. 6 Thus he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand, and he did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate.
How many of you have had times like myself, where you’ve carried around a heavy load, done all that you can do in a certain situation, prayed several times over the situation, and yet you still feel like you’re not sure of how to proceed. You end up being stuck in between a rock and a hard place. We know that the bottom line is that God is in control. Even with that, sometimes our hearts still remain heavy.
This was pretty much what Hannah had to go through. Hannah was barren, and every year when she went to give worship and sacrifice to the Lord, her husband’s other wife, Peninnah, would taunt her to the point of fear because of the fact that God had shut up her womb. We all know that fear is from Satan himself.
And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb.7 So it went on year by year. As often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat.
I Samuel 1: 6-7, ESV
Hannah’s heart was so heavy, that she went before God’s throne of grace, pleading to God to open her womb:
11 And she vowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.”
12 As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth.
I Samuel 1: 11-12, ESV
Hannah was so intentional with her prayers, that her mouth moved, but her prayers were submitted to God through her heart and her spirit. She was on a mission. Eli the priest thought that she was drunk:
13 Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman.14 And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.”15 But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord.16 Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.”
I Samuel 1: 13-16, ESV
It was at this point that God gave Hannah a sign through Eli that he had heard her cry, and her prayers would be answered:
Then Eli answered, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.”18 And she said, “Let your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.
I Samuel 1: 17, ESV
God came through as he had promised, and Hannah followed through with her promise that she had made to the Lord:
24 And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and she brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. And the child was young.25 Then they slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli.26 And she said, “Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the Lord.27 For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him.28 Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord.”
And he worshiped the Lord there.
I Samuel 1: 24-28, ESV
About six years ago, when I was at the peak of my valley, everything in my home was in an uproar. I had done everything that I could possibly do, been taken advantage of, and with a heavy heart, I went to the Lord for help in a prostrate position. I felt led to write out the prayer that King Jehoshaphat prayed in 2 Chronicles 20:
12 O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.
God laid it upon my heart to pray this prayer for the next forty days. As the days went on, spiritual warfare hit from every corner. I was on a mission, and I continued to pray. My friend and I decided to get together to pray on one accord with this same prayer New Year’s Eve night. Our kids were upstairs hanging out, and we were downstairs praying. The kids came downstairs a few times to grab food, and were looking at us as if we were crazy. But just like Hannah, we kept praying. We prayed this prayer so hard and so long till our mouths dried out, and we could no longer talk. Like Hannah, we needed an answer. We joked around about whose prayer God would answer first. And as in Hannah’s situation, God answered our requests. My prayer was answered thirteen days later. I don’t remember how quickly God answered hers. God split the Red Sea so that I could leave Egypt. Praise God for his word and his promises!
Dear Lord,
Thank you for your word and your promises. Thank you that when our hearts are heavy with grief, you are still there. You never change. You are the same yesterday, today, and forever. Please comfort our hearts when we just don’t know what to do, knowing that you are in control, and will give us instructions when the time is right.
Everybody has a name that is special to them when they think of their grandmother. For me and my family, my grandmother was always referred to as Mudear. Yesterday was her birthday, and if she were alive, we would have been celebrating. Her death occurred a little over five years, right when I was at the height of a series of traumatic events going on. Due to trauma, sometimes it seems like it was just yesterday that she died, and other times it seems like it has been longer.
Mudear was the pillar of the family. She taught us how to enjoy life by doing the simple things. She didn’t wear fancy clothes or buy fancy things. She wasn’t afforded this luxury, and even if she was, it wouldn’t have been her. She liked wearing her “house dresses”, as she called them, scarves tied on her head, getting her long fingernails polished, and watching her favorite television shows.
We were graced by a woman who showed us what it meant to have community. On any given day, she would stretch six dollars to feed us for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, along with there being the job of several trips back and forth to the local meat market by my cousin and I. She welcomed people from all walks of life into her home, and even with all the drama that went on, we knew that there was nothing that dancing, singing, and good old laughs couldn’t cure. She loved her children, and having all of her grandkids around her. There was joy in simplicity at its finest.
Mudear wasn’t one who had to raise her voice in order to get her point across. She just used her old sayings from the South. If you looked nice, she’d say, ” You look sharper than Dick was when Hattie died.” If you sat inappropriately as a young lady, she’d say, “You are sitting mighty high”. If you didn’t clean up behind yourself, she’d say, ” Oh, you must have thought today was your birthday.”
The holidays at Mudear’s house were filled with music, dressing, turkey, ham, macaroni and cheese, and let’s not forget her homemade four layer chocolate banana cakes, coconut pineapple cakes, and caramel with pecan cakes. Although we all miss you, we know that the love you shared will never be forgotten. Thank you God for gracing us with Mudear.
Venture: Making Vegan Oatmeal Raisin Coconut Chia Cookies
I decided to try my hand at making cookies again for the third time. One thing that I have learned about baking is that if you use too much or too little of something, it can cause disastrous results. Nine times out of ten, you end up having to throw the ingredients away, like I had to do last week when I decided to experiment in the kitchen. I used a little bit too much baking soda. This week’s adventure was oatmeal raisin coconut cookies with a little bit of everything added.
They turned out really good, and besides that, I like the fact that they were really healthy. You can make these for breakfast or snack. The flaxseed meal definitely gives you a boost. Another benefit is that oatmeal is good for cholesterol. If you like nuts, these would be worth a try. Have a blessed rest of your weekend.
Activity: Making Vegan Oatmeal Raisin Coconut Chia Cookies
Total Prepping and Cooking Time: 40 minutes
Ingredients:
(1/4) cup unsweetened coconut flakes
(1 1/2) cup of soymilk
(1/4) cup of coconut oil
(1/4) cup of sunflower seeds
(1/4) cup of raisins
(1) tablespoon of oil
(1 1/4) cup of flour
(1 1/4) cup of oatmeal
(1) teaspoon of vanilla extract
(3/4) cup of brown sugar
(1/2) teaspoon of baking soda
(1) tablespoon of chia seeds
(6) brazil nuts (chopped)
(3) tablespoons of flaxseed meal and 4.5 tablespoons of water mixed together
Directions:
Use parchment paper or grease a full-sized cookie sheet with oil.
Whisk together the following in bowl number one: flour, oatmeal, baking soda, chia seeds, sunflower seeds, and chopped up brazil nuts.
Mix together the following in bowl number two: olive oil, coconut oil, coconut flakes, flaxseed meal mixture, soymilk, vanilla extract, and brown sugar.
Dump bowl number one into bowl number two and mix well.
Use a cookie scoop to form balls with the cookie mixture and place them on the cookie sheet.
Enjoy and have a blessed weekend!
Serves 18
Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.
Yesterday, I decided to do one of my favorite things when it comes to cooking and baking: mix a lot of different things together to see what I come up. This meal was super economical, and the bonus is that you can have this for lunch and dinner for at least two days. If I am not using meat when I cook, I try to have more than one source of protein. In this case, we have the beans, quinoa, and rice helping you out in that area.
Also, since my daughter is a vegan, I like to start everything off with a vegan base. You can always add the meat on the side. As I was sauteing the tomatoes, my eyes were running like crazy. They also opened up my sinuses. I am usually not able to handle really hot stuff, so I added nutritional yeast to calm the spicy kick. This was a great energy booster, and I paired it up with a slice of bread. When I was a kid, it seems like every meal my grandmother made was complete with a slice of bread. Some things you never let go!
Activity: Making Vegan Black-Eye Pea and Quinoa Mash for Lunch and Dinner
Total Prepping and Cooking Time: 40 minutes
Ingredients:
(4) cans of black-eyed peas
(1/2) cup of quinoa
(1) can of fire roasted diced tomatoes
(1) teaspoon of garlic powder
(1) teaspoon of onion powder
(1) teaspoon of oregano
(1/4) cup of grapeseed, butter, or whatever oil you have
(1) teaspoon of cumin
(1) teaspoon of turmeric
(1) tablespoon of nutritional yeast
(1) cup of rice
(1) can of spinach
Directions:
Boil a cup of rice for about fifteen minutes.
Boil a 1/2 cup of quinoa for about fifteen minutes.
While the rice is boiling, boil the black-eyed peas for fifteen minutes, and saute the spinach and fire roasted tomatoes.
Dump the beans, quinoa, rice, and seasonings into the pan.
Add the nutritional yeast to cut down the heat of the tomatoes, plus for the nutritional bonus.
Enjoy and have a blessed weekend!
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.”
When it comes to breakfast, most of us eat the same few things every morning. I know I do. I am one who has always needed the extra protein boost. I always start off by munching on two to three brazil nuts in the morning. If there’s orange juice available, you can believe that a small glass is just enough to get me going. Sometimes, I immediately figure out what I am going to eat for breakfast. However, most times it’s just too early to process everything, and so, if it’s a weekday, I then proceed to figure out what I can make my kids really quick so that they can head out the door for school. Then, I can take my time to fix myself something to eat. This time, I decided to something different with grits.
I love cheesy grits. On this past Monday, I wanted to do something with a little bit of a twist than the usual, so after making the grits the regular way, I decided to add quinoa and bake it for twenty minutes. I liked the end result, and I hope that you do too. Have a blessed rest of your week!
Activity: Grits & Quinoa Casserole Pie for Breakfast and/or Brunch
Total Prepping and Cooking Time: 40 minutes
Ingredients:
(2) cups of grits
(1/2) cup of quinoa
(1) teaspoon of onion powder
(1) teaspoon of garlic powder
(1/2) cup of cheddar cheese or vegan cheese
(1/4) cup of grapeseed, butter, or whatever oil you have
(1/2) cup of soymilk or almond milk
(1) tablespoon of parsley
Directions:
Bring three cups of water to a boil.
Boil the quinoa for twenty minutes.
Add two cups of grits to the boiling water.
Stir the grits ever so often with a whisk.
Add the milk, butter, cheese, quinoa, seasoning, and parsley to the pot and whisk together.
Bake at 365 degrees for 22 minutes.
Cut into triangle pie wedges after ten minutes.
Makes 6 servings.
Enjoy!
For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.
28 Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.
I have two pillowcases that I have had for a while. A couple of years ago, I debated over whether I should get rid of them. That turned into a fleeting thought once my brain went into creative mode. They were super cozy still, but the white was kind of faded. I decided that I would bleach them, and even if they didn’t turn out super white, I appreciated the old look.
Once again, I decided to put those good, old, warm scarves to use that have been sitting in my closet forever and a day. I already had the embroidery thread and needle at home, so I didn’t spend any money on this project. I hope that this quick project inspires you to upcycle your pillowcases as well. If you decide to take on this project, how about taking pictures, and posting them below on the discussion board.
Activity: Upcycling Pillowcases
Supplies:
Wool material
Embroidery thread #25
Thick Sewing Needle
Directions:
Cut out six two-inch square pieces of wool.
Sew the squares an inch and a half apart right up above the opening side of the pillowcase.
Happy sleeping!
The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.
20 By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.
21 My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
22 So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.
24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
