I’m Proud of My Son

Being the mother of three boys brings it’s own set of challenges, but it also brings wonderful joy. Today, I experienced a sense of pride. My 13 year old son Gabriel makes me a proud mama.

He has been volunteering each Wednesday with Carolyn Mejia our media director for several months. She has been teaching him to run and program the lights for the services. He is like a kid in a candy store and loves what he is doing.

Each Wednesday, Carolyn picks Gabriel up from school and brings him to the office. He stays until Flipside youth each week and eats pizza at the meeting. This afternoon I received a call from Gabriel telling me that he didn’t have anything to eat for dinner and could I bring him something to eat.My heart leaped as I heard the words come out of his mouth.

He has been following the Daniel Fast with us. I had already planned to bring him dinner, but hadn’t stopped to call him and let him know.I am so proud of him and his heart. He and his brothers have had a wonderful attitude about the fast. They aren’t technically counting down the days, but the chapters left in John. Each chapter represents which day of the fast we are on.

5 Days and Counting

I have been perusing the web for some great recipes. I think I have found a few that might be tasty. I sure hope my family likes them.

If you want to search for recipes look for vegan websites. Beware of recipes with yeast, butter, or sugar . I will post an egg substitute for baking later this week.

Tofu Lettuce Wraps

1 head lettuce or Napa cabbage
1 pkg extra firm tofu (drained)
2 1/2 cups chopped shitake mushrooms
3 tablespoons chopped garlic (fresh)
2 tablespoons chopped ginger (fresh)
red pepper flakes
Braggs amino acids (in place of soy sauce)
salt
pepper

Directions

Dice the tofu into small bite size squares. Spread them out on a cookie sheet. Sprinkle with salt , pepper, red pepper flakes, and Braggs. Bake for 35-45 minutes at 350.

When that is almost done, heat up wok or frying pan and throw in the chopped up garlic and ginger. Fry for about 5-7 minutes until they are softer. Throw in the shitakes. At this time you can add more Braggs, usually about 4 or 5 shakes. Also, if you’d like, some more salt and pepper and red pepper flakes.

Cook about another 10 -12 minutes, then add the tofu and finish up the cooking – about 2-5 minutes.

Wash and dry the lettuce/cabbage and pull off pieces about the size of your palm.

Spoon the mixture into the leafs and roll them up!!

“Sour Cream” ( I am excited about this one., it will go good with my baked potatoes and bean burritos)

1 10.5-ounce package of lite silken tofu(firm), crumbled
1 Tablespoon canola or olive oil
4 to 5 teaspoons lemon juice(fresh is best)
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon honey or other sweetener allowed
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

Place all ingredients in a food processor(with metal blade) or blender. Process several minutes, until very creamy and smooth. Make sure you process it for a few minutes to ensure the creamy texture. Refrigerate. Serve over Mexican dishes and baked potatoes. It stays fresh for about 5 days.

Makes 1 1/4 cups

Curry Salad Dressing

1 Tablespoon curry powder
1/2 a teaspoon of sea salt
1 apple, core and chop
1 clove garlic or 1/4 teaspoon of crushed garlic
1 tablespoon of ginger
1 cup of olive oil
lemon juice from 1 lemon

Add the apple to a food processor and run on highest setting. Add spices, oil and lemon juice. Mix until creamy.

Keep checking back for more recipes!

6 Days til Daniel Fast

It’s 6 days until we begin the Daniel Fast at our house. I am getting ready by doing a few simple things.

• Cutting back on caffeine- will eliminate by Wednesday
• Getting rid of all the junk out of my house- don’t want any unnecessary temptations
• Searching for recipes and products

I have found a few recipes that  I think my family will like. My disclaimer is that I have not made them yet,  so only time will tell. Check back each day this week for more recipes.

Pesto sauce  (serve over whole wheat pasta and a salad)  

• 1/2 cup pignoli nuts
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1 1/2 cups arugula
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley
• 2 cloves garlic
• Braggs liquid amino acids to taste (buy this at health food store)

• Place all ingredients in food processor and blend. Heat over low heat.

Corn Chowder 

• 4 cups fresh or frozen corn
• 3 cups soy milk (unsweetened) or rice milk or almond milk
• 1 onion, minced
• 1 red bell pepper, minced
• 2 stalks celery, minced
• 2 T oil
• 2 potatoes, diced
• 3 cups water
• 1 1/2 t salt
• 1 t paprika
• 1/4 t cayenne

• Blend 2 cups of the corn in a blender with the soy milk and set aside. Saute onion, bell pepper and celery in the oil for 10 minutes, add the potatoes and simmer for an additional 15 minutes, stirring often. Add the remaining ingredients, bring to a boil, lower the heat and simmer for 1 1/2 hours. 

Breakfast Bars 

• 2/3 cup smooth peanut butter (smuckers creamy natural peanut butter)
• 1 cup honey
• 2 2/3 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 t cinnamon
• 1/2 t cloves
• 1/2 t nutmeg
• 1/3 cup wheat germ
• 2 cups mix-ins in any combination of the following: coconut, raisins, unsalted nuts, any finely chopped dried fruit such as dates, apricots, apples, etc.

Mix honey and peanut butter until well blended. It might help to warm the honey in the microwave about 20 seconds so that it is not so stiff. Stir in oats, flour, wheat germ and mix-ins. If mixture seems too dry, add water 1 tablespoon at a time. If it is too sticky, add oats 1 tablespoon at a time. Mixture should be slightly sticky, but still easily spread in a pan with greased fingers.

Press into a 9 x 13 inch (23 x 33 cm) pan lightly greased. Bake at 350F/180C until barely browned. DO NOT OVERBAKE! Cut while warm into desired sized bars.

When completely cool, remove from pan with a greased spatula. Wrap each bar separately in plastic wrap and then store in a zip bag or air tight container. These freeze extremely well. Makes about 2 dozen bars.

Preparing for Daniel Fast

I am excited that ROCK Church will be fasting together. Bryan has already uploaded a packet on fasting. Check it out.

Fasting as a family is important to us. Here are some things we are planning and preparing to do to include our children.

1. We decided what kind of fast we will be doing. Bryan and I will be doing a Daniel Fast and the kids will be doing a Daniel Fast when at home.
2. Setting aside time to read the Bible together as a family. We will be reading the Bible together after dinner each night and discussing.
3. Talking about why we fast before fast begins.
4. Looking for menus that will be more kid friendly.
5. Removing the foods we are not going to be eating from the house.

I will be posting menus and our experiences. Since the time of preparing a meal can take longer, I am planning on make some meals ahead and freezing them. There are some recipes in the packet so check them out.

What’s for dinner?

Bryan and Noah are still in the Washington, D.C. area, so it is hard for me to get motivated to cook anything. I ordered my groceries online Monday night and picked them up yesterday while Adam was at football practice. Of course I made sure there were some freezer meals in my order.

Our dinners this week have definitely not been our normal fare. They would definitely not pass the test for a Daniel Fast.  Elevation Church where Steven Furtick is the pastor, just finished a Daniel Fast  and Lifepoint Church where Jeff Kapusta is the pastor, are doing one right now. Maybe we should go on a Daniel Fast as a family when Bryan and Noah get back?

Here is our menu for tonight: