Speaking of Thanksgiving . . .

IT’S NEXT WEEK!!!

This happens to me nearly every year. Somehow Thanksgiving manages to sneak up on me and before I know it I’m behind on inviting and planning the menu. Alas, we have gotten the inviting done. Although I’m always concerned that we might have missed someone.

So, now for the menu. Well, I’ve got the green bean casserole covered. And my son grew a couple of pumpkins in the backyard – pumpkin pie. I’ll likely use the recipe from Nourishing Traditions. I think my in-laws are bringing a turkey. Hey, we’re half way there. I think I’ll probably do something with sweet potatoes. I have a Hawaiian recipe I’ve used many times in the past. It calls for sweet potatoes, though, not yams. I wonder if I can find those? I wonder if I can find the recipe? Well, if I do, I’ll post it here.

What are you doing for Thanksgiving dinner?

Afford Life

More than one has made the comment as they return one of my health/nutrition books that “we can’t afford to eat that way.” I usually just nod. Really what can you say? You can’t argue with someone’s pocket book. But I really believe we can’t afford not to strive for the ideal. Once you come face to face with serious health issues, your priorities can change and what you can afford shifts perspective.

But, I never want to insult my friends by questioning their priorities, so I just leave it alone. Well, today I came across a blog post on that very subject: Food and Money. It speaks of how our priorities effect how we spend our money. I suppose each family or individual must consider their own priorities and go from there. But it is definitely something I challenge folks to do. If you’ve read about food and health, and really believe what you read, what are you going to do about it?

In this post I list a few of the books that have influenced my view of food and health, if you’re interested in the subject. As I’ve said here many times, I am a long ways from the ideal. Sometimes, I’m even a hypocrite, buying and consuming stuff I know better. But I keep on trying and do the best I can – most of the time. There is always room for improvement. I want to be a good steward with the body God has given me and take good care of my health, and the health of my family. Shouldn’t that be a priority as we decide how to spend our financial resources? Not THE priority, but one of the top 5 maybe? What do you think?

When do we start?

I’m reading through my blogroll tonight (really should be getting to bed) and read a post by HealthyCookie asking whether you would want to know if you were genetically predisposed towards a particular disease or disorder down the road. It’s a good post. This part really grabbed me:

We shouldn’t wait for the bad things to happen before we notice all the good. So what if you found out you were the carrier of a disease or an illness. It shouldn’t cause you to live your life any differently. Any changes that would be made, should be made now. Today. We mustn’t wait until we get sick to start eating better… until we injure ourselves to start strengthening… until we are completely exhausted to rest. We must decide what is most important and make those things important right now.

Start now. So simple, yet so difficult for many of us. Why is it so hard to squeeze in the stuff we know is good for us, the right things to do, into our lives? That’s a good question. One I was already pondering as I’m reading a book on simple living. This book speaks of making conscious choices in our lives – thinking about what we do  and why we do it – living on purpose. I’ll probably post more on that as I get further into the book. It is good stuff to think about.

For now, I must say good night. Starting now, I’m going to bed to rest.

He is Risen!

*Early Sunday morning

Before the light of day,

An angel came from heaven

And rolled the stone away.

Later on some women came

And looked inside the tomb,

But Jesus wasn’t in there -

It was an empty room!

Happy Resurrection Day.

*Poem from The Rhyme Bible Storybook by L.J. Sattgast.

Leg of Lamb

While we’re on the subject, I like to make lamb on Easter Sunday. Since I still haven’t made my meat order (doing that next) I’m not certain we’ll have any in time this year. But, usually it only takes two days to arrive, so I should be OK, if they haven’t run out altogether at the ranch.

Well, Barb from My Sister’s Kitchen requested a Leg of Lamb recipe. I posted a simple crock-pot recipe as a comment on this post. But here is another recipe that I have used that is very good.

Leg of Lamb with Roasted Potatoes

• 6ish pound lamb leg, whole
• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
• 2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano leaves, crushed
• 1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
• olive oil
• salt
• 3 pounds medium-sized potatoes
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

1. Place lamb leg, fat-side up, on small rack in large roasting pan (about 17″ by 11 1/2″).
2. In cup, combine chopped parsley, lemon peel, oregano, pepper, 1 tablespoon olive or salad oil, and 1 teaspoon salt. Rub mixture over lamb.
3. Insert meat thermometer into thickest part of lamb, being careful that the pointed end of thermometer does not touch bone. Roast lamb in 325 degree F oven until meat thermometer reaches 160 degrees F for medium or until of desired doneness, 2 to 2 1/4 hours, basting lamb occasionally with pan drippings.
4. Meanwhile, cut unpeeled potatoes into 1 1/2-inch chunks. In large bowl, toss potatoes with 1 tablespoon olive or salad oil and 1/2 teaspoon salt. AFter lamb has roasted about 30 minutes, arrange potatoes around lamb in roasting pan. Roast potatoes with lamb, turning them occasionally and basting with pan drippings.
5. When lamb is done, place on warm large platter; arrange potatoes around lamb. Let lamb stand 15 minutes for easier carving.
6. While lamb is standing, prepare gravy: Remove rack from roasting pan. Pour pan drippings into a 2-cup measuring cup; let stand until fat separates from meat juice. Skim 1 tablespoon fat from drippings into 2-quart saucepan; discard any remaining fat. Stir 1 cup water into roasting pan to loosen brown bits; add to meat juice in cup.
7. Into fat in saucepan over medium heat, stir flour and 1/4 teaspoon salt until blended. Gradually stir in meat-juice mixture and cook, stirring constantly, until gravy thickens slightly and boils; boil 1 minute. Pour gravy into gravy boat. Serve gravy with lamb.

My printed copy does not reference where I found this recipe. But I do have the following information: serves 12, cook/prep time 2 1/2 hours. Per serving: 440 calories, 24 g fat, 120 mg cholesterol, 405 mg sodium.

Resurrection Day Cookies

For a follower of Christ, Easter is a glorious, victorious day – Resurrection Day. Years ago, my husband and I made these cookies together to celebrate, before there were any little ones. This year my son has just turned four. I think it’s time we make them again. This is as much a teaching/devotion activity as it is fun in the kitchen. If you’d like to do this with your family, here’s what you’ll need:

• 1 cup whole pecans
• 1 tsp. vinegar
• 3 egg whites
• pinch salt
• 1 cup sugar
• zipper baggie
• wooden spoon
• tape
• Bible

Here’s what to do:

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
2. Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. (read John 19:1-3)
3. Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross He was given vinegar to drink. (read John 19:28-30)
4. Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. (read John 10:10-11)
5. Sprinkle a little salt into each child’s hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus’ followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. (read Luke 23:27)
6. So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. (read Psalms 34:8 and John 3:16)
7. Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God’s eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. (read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3)
8. Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus’ body was laid. (read Matthew 27:57-60)
9. Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus’ tomb was sealed. (read Matthew 27:65-66)
10. GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus’ followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. (read John 16:20 and 22)
11. On Easter morning (also known as Resurrection Day) open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter Jesus’ followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. (read Matthew 28:1-9)

I have a note that I found the recipe at: http://www.gospelcom.net/growingtogether/. But that was several years ago, so that is not a working link. The cookies are a bit like divinity. If you do this with your family, I’d love to hear how it went, how the kids responded, etc. Have a wonderful Easter week.

Trusting

It seems much of my focus thus far, here, has been on food. But, living a whole life involves much more than just what you eat. We have physical bodies that need to move (exercise – bleh). Even more than that, though, we need to pay attention to other aspects of ourselves, spiritually, emotionally, relationally/socially. This post regards my personal spiritual life, in response to my vent in the last post.

Now, I’m not out to tell anyone else what their spiritual life should entail. That is certainly not up to me. For me, I believe the God of the Bible. Yup, I’m one of those Christians. I’m a follower of Christ. Anyway, between the frustrations I expressed here, and a post lamenting my downfalls as a parent on my other blog, I was feeling somewhat discouraged. So, before switching off the lamp, I opened up my Bible and began to read. I was directed in my spirit to verses regarding God’s faithfulness. I quoted some of them on my other blog. But I was quite amazed to even find some that applied here:

The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.  Psalm 145:15-16

I couldn’t help but smile at that.