26 October 2023 Food Specialty

What food would you say is your specialty?

I would have to say my specialty is baked goods – specifically bread and desserts. There are a couple recipes I have practically memorized because I used to make them so often – chocolate chip cookies, fruit crisp and devils food cake for example. I quit baking since living on my own because I know I would eat it all and get fatter than I already am!

This passage about bread is a good one!

John 6:1-15New International Version

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

6 Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. The Jewish Passover Festivalwas near.

When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?”He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages[a] to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”

Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”

10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there).11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

14 After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

21 October 2023 Something People Don’t Know

What’s something most people don’t know about you?

Since I write a blog there is very little that isn’t known about me! What comes to mind is favorite candies. One of my all time favorites is Cherry Mash:

We used to get these at the pharmacy in Alvarado and the Vermont Country Store. I think Ridleys carries them I have to check ! I’m trying to lose weight so probably best if I don’t
seek them out!

Romans 2:11New International Version

11 For God does not show favoritism.

11 October 2023 Hardest Personal Goal

What was the hardest personal goal you’ve set for yourself?

As of right now my personal goal presenting the most difficulty is weight loss. I have been heavy before and it took extreme measures to get the weight off. As soon as I started eating normally again and indulging cravings the weight came back with a vengeance! I would like to lose this excess weight at a reasonable rate so I don’t have loose skin issues! So I am praying for wisdom. I think the Factor meals will help. They are a healthy mix of meat and vegetables with reasonable portions.

1 Corinthians 10:31New International Version

31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

3 October 2023 Factor meals

Hello there, how are you? I just had my first Factor meal and it was so good! The pork chop was tender and the broccoli was cooked just right. If this meal is any indication of the quality of the rest of the meals I’m in for a treat!

Mark 2:13-17New International Version

Jesus Calls Levi and Eats With Sinners

13 Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. 14 As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.

15 While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16 When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

17 On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

20 September 2023 Holidays

How do you celebrate holidays?

The way I celebrate holidays has varied throughout my life. There used to be birthday cakes and blowing out candles and that still happens to this day even if I protest lol. Although traditional cake had been replaced with chocolate pudding dessert. The major holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas involve family gatherings and lots of food. That hasn’t changed much. Presents at Christmas has really toned down and the Idaho family does a white elephant gift exchange. Now that we have little babies, great grand children, in the mix I can imagine Santa Claus will surface!

Exodus 20:8-11New International Version

8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns.11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lordblessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

19 September 2023 Baking Fail

Write about your most epic baking or cooking fail.

I would have to say my worst baking fail is chocolate chip cookies. When you live in a different climate, altitude, access to different quality ingredients, different stove- it all affects the outcome of what your making. By the time I left Texas, I pretty much had everything down and the cookies were consistently good. I had my fans – my Dad and my exes brother in particular ! When they came to visit they would make a beeline towards the container I used to keep them in! I haven’t baked really since I got here. Just too many calories for one person.

Exodus 16:23New International Version

23 He said to them, “This is what the Lord-commande: ‘Tomorrow is to be a day of sabbath rest, a holy sabbath to the Lord. So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.’”

17 September 2023 Favorite Food

What are your favorite types of foods?

My favorite types of foods are desserts. I like most anything sweet. Be it a candy bar or a piece of pie. As I age I can’t eat them like used to.

1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.NIV: New International Version

7 August 2023 Happiness

List 30 things that make you happy.

Hello to you. How are you? Todays prompt is tough for me as I think it’s been since before my divorce I’ve been truly happy. Last night I dreamt about being with my ex and we were so happy in the dream he suggested we put our wedding rings back on- talk about my brain manufacturing wishful thinking! Yet it was so vivid and romantic! Truth be told though that ship has definitely sailed. As the years pass since the divorce the more I have come to believe that Kyle was it for me. I always said if I couldn’t make things work with him I would end up alone. Being Bipolar 1 has been a marriage/relationship killer for me.

So what makes me happy? Let’s see – food like desserts, Link, my family, a good movie or television show, a good song, nature (especially flowers and clouds), Jesus – experiencing him at Church and in the world, helping others and that’s about it. Can’t come up with 30!

Something I want to mention happened this past Sunday at church both moved me and made me happy. We were singing and I stopped to look around and I almost started to cry. I thought what if this is like heaven? The song we were singing was Blessed Assurance. One of the reasons I almost cried too was hearing a little girl behind me singing her little heart out! So sweet! I just got to thinking about what heaven might be like. A place where there is peace – no fighting – and a lot of beautiful music all day long every day. I miss singing next to my Mom and Dad at church. The Catholic Church has such beautiful hyms,

https://youtu.be/Bsdl8DSZfRo – Elevation Worship Blessed Assurance (lyric video)

Blessed Assurance

Lyrics

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God
Born of his Spirit, washed in His blood

This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long
This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long

Perfect submission, perfect delight
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight
Angels descending bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love

This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long
This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long
Praising my Savior all the day long

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Don Wyrtzen / Fanny Crosby / Phoebe Knapp

Blessed Assurance lyrics © Word Music Llc, Integrity Music, Word Music, Llc, Curb Word Music

Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 NIV12

I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 13 That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil-this is the gift of God.

23 July 2023 Comfort Food

What’s your go-to comfort food?

Hello to you. How are you? Just back from church and some errands. I locked myself out last night and didn’t have a spare key. Thank God my Aunt had a spare! I have mentioned this before but I’ll say it again – her and my Uncle John are my earth angels. When I need help or just some company they are there. We had a nice meal together yesterday with my cousin Tony. I’m so grateful for my family here. They are such a great support system.

“Are you getting up?!”
This treat has been with me most of my life. I used to eat them for lunch at school

My comfort food is peanut butter and chocolate. I enjoy Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and Little Debbie’s Nutty Bars. Neither of these are low calorie so they have to be eaten in moderation! When I was a teenager I was hungry all the time and would eat semi-sweet chocolate chips in peanut butter as a snack.

Todays psalm at church is a well known favorite. It was nice to have Pastor Jayson Boyd and his wife Becky back today:

Psalm 23New International Version

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
    He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
    he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,[a]
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.

24 June 2023 Food and Childhood

Which food, when you eat it, instantly transports you to childhood?

Hello to you. How are you doing? It’s Saturday as I write to you. It’s about 84 degrees and sunny out.

Todays prompt is a tough one for me as I’m kinda of a foodie. Many foods transport me to different parts of my life. I would have to say my moms chocolate pudding dessert is a big one. I can’t remember when she first made it or when I started wanting that dessert in place of a birthday cake. I just know that whenever I have it I think of my Mom and Dad. Dad and I both like it for our birthday! We would joke about getting up in the middle of the night to sneak a piece or who got a bigger piece. It’s one of those desserts you can only make for special occasions as it’s pretty rich. My family here in Idaho loves it too. My Aunt made it for my cousin and my birthday this year and everybody loved it.

Instant chocolate pudding – you can use other flavors if you don’t like chocolate

Recipe: Moms Chocolate Pudding Dessert

Crust: 1/2 cup melted butter , 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Bake above in 9×13 pan at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Let cool then add:

2nd layer: 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 cup Cool Whip, 8 oz cream cheese

3rd layer: 2 pckgs instant chocolate pudding, 3 cups milk, 1 tsp vanilla

Top last layer with remaining cool whip and nuts if desired and chill.

John 6:27New International Version

27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”