15 Apr 2010

California Waldorf Salad: from Moosewood

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Well, here was my first recipe from the 100$ for 1.50 cookbook. I like it ok- just wouldn’t serve it for dinner (which is what I’m doing).

3 large apples, chopped (I used 1 large golden delicious and 2 medium pink ladies, skin on)
juice of 2 lemons, divided
2 tangerines (I would use mandarin oranges next time – no seeding)
2 stalks celery (I used 2 instead of 1)
1/4 cup dried currants
1/2 cup cashews (I didn’t toast them)

Dressing: (sweeter than I thought, would use less honey next time)
1 cup plain ff yogurt
1 small avocado (maybe the world’s perfect food)
zest of half lemon
3 T honey (I used orange blossom)

Toss apple mixture with juice of one of the lemons.
Mix dressing and other lemon juice in a blender till smooth.
Mix together gently.
Serve over mixed greens.

I would serve this for a brunch in the summer. Pretty and light and sweet. Would be good paired with muffins.
14 Apr 2010

Taste of Raleigh: Wildflour Boston Pizza

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For 6 months I lived within walking distance of this place and never went. Today was the first day I ventured out with a co-worker to check out a little corner restaurant in Stonehenge (N. Raleigh) for lunch: Wildflour Boston Pizza.
Ok – I don’t thnk I had even heard of Boston Pizza. Yeah, of course – Chicago, New York, CPK, homemade, Dominos, Pizza Hut, Papa Johns, Little Caesar…we have our favorites…but Boston?
I wasn’t even planning on getting pizza…
But, I saw the price (7 for a small – 6 slices – and 1.45 for each topping) and the fact that I could get it with whole wheat crust – that sold me on it!
Tall-sided crust, medium bottom crust, crunchy, not your typical mozzerella cheese, and fresh roma tomatoes! I even had a little avocado put on top from my friend’s fiesta salad.
It was…good. The pizza and conversation was much better than the service. It wasn’t that crowded, but it seemed to take a while for us to get our order and we had to wait for straws, etc. Our server wasn’t overly friendly – just soft-spoken and matter of fact.
So…do I have to go again tomorrow because everything was fantabulous – no. But, would I go again – yes.
13 Apr 2010

Greg Gilbert's What is the Gospel?

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This book has received so much coverage in the blogosphere – probably since Crazy Love. I picked up this book as soon as it came out – and just finished it. I got to be friends with Greg and his wife, Moriah, while attending the same church in Louisville, KY a few years ago. They both lived out much of this book in their friendship with me: whether it was attending their son’s soccer game, eating at the Homemade Pie and Ice Cream Kitchen, or just chilling in their home, or serving hot dogs to the 3rd avenue neighbors.
Greg, at the very beginning, explains his goals for writing this book (I like that, I don’t need to wonder what they are). Here is my paraphrase of them:
1. Bring more joy to Christians. “An emaciated gospel leads to emaciated worship.” (20) As one of the guys I serve with said this morning, us knowing our sin more (being made more aware of how sinful we are), we will indeed know the gospel – how good and amazing God is – more.
2. Evangelistic. Greg does not suppose that everyone reading this book is a believer. This would be a great book to read in a new believers/interested in Christianity class at a church. 8 chapters – that 2 months, or over the summer, its not overwhelming!
3. Community. “Also, Christian, the gospel should drive you to a deeper and livelier love for God’s people, the church.” (117) Very clearly we see the need for this in our local body. There are many factions within most local churches. So many do not know those they serve with – or sit next to Sunday after Sunday. This means more than just shaking their hand during the very awkward “greet” time. This means pouring into the lives of those you “do church” with. Get to know them – hear their heartbeat, know what drives them.
4. Clarity. A few months ago there was this “competition” on Twitter to post the gospel in less than 140 characters. how difficult is that? That even paved the way for this goal of Greg’s – we need to KNOW what the gospel is and be able to articulate it to a lost and dying world – or confused church attenders.
5. Apologetics. Wow, what a great tool this would be on a college campus – for use in a small group, dorm Bible study. Just having it out on your nightstand or coffee table, or in your car (to read at traffic lights or coffee shops) would definitely open up the door wide for conversations.
These 5 goals of Greg’s are clearly met in every chapter of this book. I highly recommend it. Below are some more personal thoughts I have had while reading it:
There is a post-it note on my vanity mirror right now at home – its been up there 10 days, and as I was reminded of it by someone this morning – I think it will stay up there: Jonah 2:8-9: paraphrased: if I cling to worthless idols, I forfeit my hope of steadfast love – by the Savior of the world. Greg puts it like this: “For human beings to consider their Creator and then decide that a wood or metal image of a frog or a bird or even themselves is more valuable is that height of insult and rebellion against God.” (29)
Almost immediately after starting my new ministry here in Raleigh, I heard this verse from one of the pastors – Greg writes it here – from 1 Corinthians 15: paraphrased: Christ died for our sins is of UTMOST importance – but He is not still dead – He lives – so we can live too!
As we think about goals and life dreams (not just at New Years or Birthdays): “They had goals and desires that were categorically opposed to what God desired for them, and so they sinned.” (50). Do you ever stop to wonder and pray and seek God’s face to ask him if the goals you have and the goals He has for you are the same? One of those things that would be good to know!

Thanks Greg for writing this!

Colossians 3.16 – Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly.”
12 Apr 2010

Menu Week: April 12

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This is going to be a great, but busy week! Here we go!
Monday: whole wheat bagel thin with pb and veggie cream cheese (on different halves) before a meeting, fruit at the meeting. Lunch is Moes. Dinner is roasted asparagus and an egg white.
Tuesday: leftovers for lunch and dinner: black beans for lunch and 2 bean soup for dinner
Wednesday: eating out with a cool new lady at work and dinner will be asparagus with an egg white (new low fat dinner)
Thursday: bagel thin, lunch will be maybe something at Caribou, dinner with be a new recipe from the moosewood cookbook: california waldorf salad over mixed greens. And I’m making a new healthy bar recipe – strawberry oat bars – for dessert (with cool whip).
Friday: El Rodeo for lunch and something crazy healthy for dinner
Saturday: pumpkin oatmeal muffins (haven’t made those in a long time) before a bike ride (with dark chocolate pb) and then hopefully some fresh fruit and veggie from the Durham Farmers Market – or another great local place over there – after the bike ride. Saturday night – something uber healthy again.
Sunday: carbs for breakfast and lunch as I’ll be running a 10k that afternoon
Recipe of the week: Strawberry Oat Bars
I’ve been snacking way too much. Need to stop! I need to brush my teeth or something after every meal so I don’t keep snacking!
Anyway – there you have it! 🙂

11 Apr 2010

Taste of Morrisville: Smokey's BBQ Shack

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Just off of the beaten path… (I’m singing an Alabama song as I write that) – in Morrisville is a little trailer type restaurant on the side of the ride, picnic table outside, gravel parking lots, red front door.
Smokey’s BBQ Shack just started opening on the weekends and by the time we left it was definitely pretty full by the locals. It was NC bbq – smoked meat (I tried the pork and chicken, taking most of the chicken as leftovers) with a vinegar based sauce. The pork was good – wasn’t dry and tasted good with the sauce. The sides I ordered: green beans and french fries – neither were as good as Sonny’s. But…the pork and the little hushpuppies made up for it.
What was the two best things about this restaurant: the atmosphere (roll of paper towels on each table, laid back, unpretentious in every way) and the company. This is a place my friend would always go to when she lived there. Janel moved to the Windy City but got her sweet tea fix just minutes after the airport yesterday.
7 Apr 2010

Taste of Raleigh: Assaggio's

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The ladies at Providence took me out to lunch – had fun getting to know them better. Right across the street was this little Italian place, cafe, good place for lunch. By the time we left it was pretty full.
I got the special which was under $6 and included a refillable drink, a HUGE slice of pizza with one topping, and a salad. Since we also had a large group, they brought us baskets of garlic knots.
The unsweet tea and garlic knots rocked. Little pieces of garlic were in the bottom of the basket – yummy. I had half of one – very good.
The salad was generic but good – refreshing before I put pizza in my mouth.
The pizza was good: not very cheesy, liked the thickness, liked the mushrooms, was almost cold by the time I got it (I blame it on the large group).
The company was wonderful. Refills and price were great. And the service was good and friendly.
The pizza and salad – not much to write home about. Maybe I’ll go back for another meal and try something else.
7 Apr 2010

Goodwill Find: The Moosewood Cookbook

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So, a few months ago on my google reader came a list of cookbooks that were great to have. One on the list was the Moosewood Cookbook from a restaurant in Ithica, NY. This cookbook was published in 1977 (the year I was born) and I do believe is currently out of print. They do have many other cookbooks if you want to get one.
Some of the reasons this cookbook is worth so much is because of its hand-written recipes and pencil drawings. There are plenty of great vegetarian, whole food recipes. I am looking forward to trying many of them.
I was out shopping at my local Goodwill here in Raleigh the other night and came across this. It was AMAZING. I couldn’t believe it. I picked it up and horded it so no one else would come steal it from me.
Now the question: what will I cook from it?
Sweet Potato Pancakes, Brazilian Black Bean Soup, Polenta Pizza, Minestrone, Salads, and some of their sauces
Second question, will I keep it or try to sell it?
Depends on if the recipes are any good…
What are your thoughts on valuable cookbooks – keep or sell?
4 Apr 2010

Death is Dead and other Real Thoughts

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This is not a blog post particularly on Easter, I am just writing it on Easter Sunday afternoon – so some of it has come from thinking on this day.
A lot has taken place in the last week.
True Woman Conference 10 in Chattanooga
Moving out of Louisville, KY and leaving a job I’ve loved for 2.7 years
Moving back HOME to Raleigh, NC. I love the Triangle.
Driving 9 hours with a great friend following my Dad.
Being welcomed by so many to Providence Baptist Church.
Worshipping this morning for Easter at my new church home and not feeling like a guest.
These are some of my thoughts on that:
1. The unconditional love of God the Father. I learned that this week more. I guess it was on Friday morning, I was getting ready to head to get my hair cut, fixing breakfast for Dad and I. He said “I know it may not always seem it, but I love you.” I replied, “I don’t know why, I don’t always show it back to you.” Right as soon as those words came out of my mouth, I knew that I had in a sense declared the gospel to my Dad. God the Father loves me unconditionally – all the time, even when I don’t see it, don’t feel it, or definitely don’t deserve it. He loves me during the times I disrespect him, ignore him, don’t want to spend time with Him, etc.
2. The Body of Christ. This wins out over Facebook. I had a amazing help by 6 guy friends in the ville for moving me out so quickly – 45 minutes. And Rachael pretty much hands down cleaned my whole apt as I was directing the guys and saying my goodbyes. But, earlier in the week I had no clue how I was going to get all my stuff in my apt. I had very little help. By the time I got to the apt on Tuesday, I had about 10 people helping – and we finished it in about 25 minutes. Some were friends, some only stayed 5 minutes because there wasn’t anything else to be done, but the peeps who did most of the work were people I didn’t even know. They just wanted to help. This, my friends, is what the Body does for other members of the Body – and to people not in the Body.
3. “Death is dead.” I love this line from a Getty song. I mean think about it. If the wages of sin is dead – then it is dead. Dead. Not half alive, not in a coma. The empty tomb conquered death for us for eternity. Does that mean we still won’t sin? No. But, it means that sin has no more dominion over us. When I struggle with the sin of impatience, overeating, laziness, comparison, judgmentalism, coveting, pride, putting Christ last – He has won all those and I need no longer struggle with them. My Mom was talking about this on the phone while I was traveling home. All we have is Christ – as the New Attitude band song says.
4. We have victory every day. Pastor David preached on this this morning. We have victory over sin on Easter. But, we also have victory over sin on Monday, on January 3, on Dec 25, on July 16 – 365 days a year. There is not a day where we should live in the defeated dejection of sin. Christ’s love is better than that life.
5. We are all sinners. As I was loving on babies this morning at the 930 hour – I had some cute ones. It was very interesting to see them during snack time. We laid out a sheet and sat them all down, poured cheerios in front of them. They immediately looked at what the other kids received and went for their’s. I guarantee their parents haven’t trained them to be stealers, coveting, envious, prideful, selfish toddlers. No. But, sin is by nature. This is why we have to teach the gospel so early! We are by nature all sinners, deserving of death, being loved and shown mercy by a gracious God. PTL. And just for the record, I enjoyed holding Rachel and Judah in my lap for most of time. Judah – that kid – gotta love him. We snuggled!
6. I have loved most parts of my life the past 2.7 years. Louisville – the friends, the job, and the restaurants – will definitely be missed. I have great friends there. But, there are other parts that won’t be missed so much – that were extremely hard.
7. God has graciously blessed. The last 6 months in this transition have been hard at time, but most of the time I have seen and known the peace of God and known His blessing and hand of direction on this! I will see a dream fulfilled tomorrow – a prayer request I’ve had for 7 years (since graduating seminary). Even as I look out my porch right now – knowing there is pollen covering my car, knowing there will be tough times, knowing that there will be many times I will feel lonely and over my head, overwhelmed by the task at hand. I do know that God’s hand and glory all over this. I can’t wait.
I look forward to seeing what my life looks like – as it is lived out for his glory. Thankful for the cross!

Colossians 3.16 – Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly.”
4 Apr 2010

Menu Week: April 5

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Wow – here we go! 🙂
I already love living in Raleigh – have eaten at Chipotle, Tripps, Whole Foods, and the Cheesecake Factory – good stuff! This week will be some leftovers, eating out, and over at a friend’s home.
So, since I haven’t sat down to plan out my daily menu – I’ll just give you a run down of what I will be eating this week. Usually I will take Fridays to plan for the next week – sitting at Caribou – planning my work, home, exercise, and cooking schedule for the following week
Breakfasts will probably be fruit and banana pancakes.
Lunch: leftovers of cheesecake factory’s chopped vegetable salad with chicken – at least 2 days; majudra leftovers – maybe topped on a salad.
Dinners: salad with egg whites – grits and egg white – and then whatever else I didn’t eat for lunch.
Thursday I’m hanging out with Bonnie for dinner. Saturday for lunch will be BBQ in Morrisville with Janel. The recipe of the week will be Tuscan Bean Soup from BH&G 2/2008. I know it is getting warm, but I still find something so comforting in soups. I love things you can eat with a spoon! And it is really easy and full of vegetables! I’ll probably go ahead and make this completely vegetarian by using veggie broth instead of chicken broth.

2 Apr 2010

Baked Grits – 2010.13

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My Dad is from the South and he loves grits. So, when I knew he was staying for a few days to help me get settled here in Raleigh, I knew I wanted to make this recipe. I halved the recipe and glad I did because their serving sizes are huge! This was rich, creamy, nutty (due to Parm cheese). So good. Cooking Light has a winner here.

2 cups milk (I used skim, in a glass, from a local farm: delish)
2 cups water
pinch of salt
3/4 cup quick cooking grits (scant, I just like them thicker)
2 oz grated parm cheese (about 2/3 cup)
2 1/2 egg whites
pinch of black pepper
2 T chopped fresh chives
pinch of salt

Bring milk, water, and salt to boil. Stir in grits, turn down to simmer, cover and let cook, stirring occassionally, for 8 minutes. Meanwhile, grate cheese, seperate egg whites, chop chives.
Whisk egg whites to stiff peaks (don’t over beat) with pinch of salt. Add chives, pepper, and salt to grits when they are done. Fold in the egg whites (don’t deflate them). Pour in greased 8×8 pan and bake at 350 for about 25-30 minutes. Lightly browned, little wobbly in middle.
Enjoy. I cooked some eggs and decorate the plate with remaining chives.
About 200 calories – and worth it!