Saturday!!! (Chicken Noodle Soup)

September 24th will always be a hard day for me..  My niece Melissa was born on this day 26 years ago and a day does not go by without missing her tremendously..  I miss them all..   the pain eases, but never fully goes away..  Memories sadly fade a little..  I wish I had written down all the good ones..  especially for my kids.. 

Today we volunteered to help clean up a ball field.  One of our Team Leads that opened our store and transferred to Canton to open that store lost his son tragically the beginning of the year and they are dedicating and naming the field after him..  I am so happy that their community is rallying around this family and doing this.. I know it means alot to them.. 
That has been my morning..  and now I am tired..  fever is up and sinuses all clogged and unhappy,  which means.. I am going to make me some kick-ass Chicken Noodle Soup..  :)  
This was one of my devotions yesterday morning..  I loved it and wanted to share..

~I Can't Please Everyone~   Glynnis Whitwere

"Obviously, I'm not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ's servant." Galatians 1:10 (NLT)

 

I started texting four years ago when we hired Kortney, a 21-year-old, to help with our business. On the way to work one day, she texted me and asked if I wanted a coffee. I received her text, but labored to respond. Before I could finish typing my answer, she texted me a second and then a third time. 

Finally I just gave up and called her. "Kortney," I said. "If you would stop texting me I could respond!" We laughed about it for weeks. Actually, I think she was laughing at me, but I enjoyed it too

.

In our current culture, people expect us to respond to their requests with increasing speed and efficiency. Whether it's a call, text, email, instant message, or Facebook comment, there's an understanding ... no, an expectation ... that we will respond.

I'll admit I fall into this as well. It appeals to my need to be needed. Someone wants my opinion or my help. At the very least, they want to connect with me. If they are willing to share their lives with me, my desire is to respond. Promptly. With creativity. And a bit of humor, if you please. But honestly, it's exhausting. 

Dealing with the expectations of others is especially hard for us as women. It's impossible to meet everyone's needs. There are no firm lines between our private and public lives, and it's turning some of us into people-pleasing maniacs. Sadly, this is self-sabotaging behavior.

Jesus identified a similar people-pleasing tendency in His disciples. They were torn between obligations to others and obedience to Him. They wanted to follow Jesus, but on their terms. Jesus challenged this line of thinking, and called them to a new level of obedience, one that forced them to choose what was most important. Here are some examples:

• "Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.'" (Matthew 16:24-25, NIV)

• "Still another said, 'I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.' Jesus replied, 'No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.'" (Luke 9:61-62, NIV)

When the demands of others threatened their immediate obedience, Jesus called them back to Himself. He challenged them with the same unspoken question He asks us: Who are you going to please first?

Without settling our hearts on the answer to this question, we end up with an over-whelmed and over-committed life. Our lives operate like a bumper car, crazily racing in one direction, only to crash into an obstacle and wildly turn another direction. 

My life has felt that way at times. But my heart gained clarity and direction when I declared Jesus Christ to be my leader. Now, please know that even though I believed those words in my heart and spoke them with my mouth, it took years to bring every area of my life into alignment. It is still a process, and at times I have to check my reality against my intent.

Declaring Jesus as our leader breaks our bondage to the approval of others, and helps clarify our motives. Plus, it reduces stress as we accept the fact that we can't please everyone, and God never expects us to try.

Chicken Noodle Soup

2 bone in chicken breast

water

salt, pepper, garlic powder, rosemary

Place the chicken breast in a large stock pot and cover with water.  add the salt and pepper, garlic powder and rosemary.  cover and cook on medium heat for a couple of hours.  

1 onion, chopped

1 leek, cut in half, sliced and washed

4 celery ribs, diced

5 cloves garlic, minced

fresh ginger, grated

8 oz mushrooms, sliced

6 carrots, sliced

1 bag whole wheat egg noodles

In a 2nd large stock pot heat olive oil, add the onions, leek and celery and cook for about 10 minutes.  add the garlic and ginger and cook another 2 minutes,  add the sliced mushrooms and cook another 10 minutes.  Take the chicken breast out of the other stock pot and put to the side,  strain the broth and then add to the vegetables,  add about 4 c water and more salt and pepper.  let simmer for about 30 minutes,  add the sliced carrots and shred the chicken and add to the soup and cook another 10 minutes,  add the egg noodles and cook until done.  taste to adjust seasonings. 

Crazy Missoni Tuesday!!!! (Macaroni and Cheese)

What a crazy day at work today..  People were running in and grabbing the Missoni product that we are selling for a limited time at lightening speed.. it was cute,  but not that cute.. and now I find out that it is being sold on ebay for 2 to 3 times what people paid for it.. come on people..  don't be stupid..  it's barely worth original retail..  then I got to push product for a ton of sales planners throughout housewares.. fun times.. Maybe spent an hour in Cosmetics..  my poor dept.. looks like a bomb exploded in there.. and the amt of empty pkgs makes me angry..   oh and lets not forget the ton of candy that we pushed back in mini-seasonal..  yes folks..  we have set Halloween.. it is official,  my life is OVER until February..  I really need to find someone to rub my feet through 4th qtr.. they already hurt so bad..

So I was sent a request through text this afternoon..  could I please please make mac and cheese for dinner tonight.. something totally different than what I was planning,  but I'm a pushover when it comes to my children and dinner so I said yes,  and I have been in the kitchen making mac and cheese.. it is in the oven as we speak.. and it looked so yummy..  :)

Macaroni and Cheese

1 lb dry elbow macaroni or small or medium shells,  cooked according to pkg directions
4 tbsp olive oil
3 tbsp butter
7 tbsp flour
splash of sriracha hot sauce
salt and pepper
6 c liquid.. I used a combination of vege broth, skim milk and heavy cream
8 oz sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
8 oz pepper jack cheese, shredded.. I get the hot

In a large saucepan heat the oil and butter,  when melted add the flour 1 tbsp at a time, whisking to mix with the oil mix..  add the sauce and salt and pepper and let cook for a couple minutes.  Add the liquid, whisking the whole time..  bring to a boil, stirring often over medium low heat..  when it starts to thicken and boil and the cheeses and stir with a wooden spoon..  poor in the drained pasta and mix well.. stir and pour into a 9x13 pan and bake in a 350 degree oven for 30 to 45 minutes.. 

Monday!! (Turkey Enchilada Pie)

Cooking saves me..  it makes me happy when I am sad,  it pulls me back from the dark recesses of depression,  it reminds me of all the wonderful people that I have had the privilege of cooking with..   It makes me thankful for all the memories..  I reach for my mom's iron skillet and remember making chocolate frosting in it.. a recipe that is still giving me fits..  I have so many wonderful memories that are centered around cooking and I am so thankful for all those memories.

Tonight for dinner another new recipe.. it is supposed to be Beef Enchilada Pie,  but I am substituting ground turkey for the beef..

Turkey Enchilada Pie

Olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 lb ground turkey
1  10oz can enchilada sauce
1 c frozen corn
1 4.5oz can chopped chilis
1 pkt low sodium taco seasoning
5 whole wheat, flour or any flavor burrito size tortillas
Mexican cheese

In a large skillet heat the oil,  add the onion and cook for a few minutes,  add the turkey and garlic,  cook until turkey is done.  open enchilada sauce and reserve 1/4 c,  add the rest of the sauce, the corn, chilis and taco seasoning.  stir well and cook for about 5 minutes..  in a 9 in pie plate spray with non stick spray,  place 1 tortilla on the bottom of the pan,  spoon about 3/4 c meat mixture on the tortilla and spread around, sprinkle with cheese and repeat 3 more times,  end with the last tortilla,  spread with reserved sauce and the rest of the cheese,  bake in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes..  serve with rice or a salad..

Never Forget!! (Beef with Mushroom Barley Soup, Wheat Bread)

10 years ago I sat in my living room enjoying my 2nd cup of coffee watching the Today Show when the first plane hit..  I was in shock and almost immediately knew something was not right,  as I sat there watching and the 2nd plane hit I knew unfortunately that history was in the making and went and got the kids up.   We homeschooled and this was something that they needed to witness..  as I made pancakes for breakfast as we watched the coverage and talked about the history of the country and how this would impact us all I kept thinking how had we  as a country founded on God gotten this far from God that these kinds of attacks would occur..  I believe that we as a nation started worshiping the all mighty dollar more than God..  I pray for the families that lost loved ones on that day..  That kind of tragedy is so hard to get over,  you have a hard time wrapping your mind around why it happened.. they will always have a huge hole in their lives where their loved ones used to be..  Hopefully our country is still reaching out to those families..  you truly never stop grieving.. 

I decided to make something new for dinner tonight..  I need to get in the kitchen more.. I feel lost sometimes when I don't spend time cooking in the kitchen.. today is a crock pot meal..  it already smells wonderful..   I also decided to make some bread..  making bread calms me,  plus the smell is amazing..  there is nothing like the smell of fresh baked bread..

 Just mixed together in the Crock Pot

 

Beefy Mushroom Barley Soup

1lb stew beef, cut into small pieces
5 c baby bella mushrooms, sliced
3 carrots, sliced
2 celery stalks, diced
2 leeks, trimmed, sliced and cleaned
4 to 5 cloves garlic, minced
32 oz beef broth
1/2 c sherry or more beef broth
1 tsp rosemary
1 tsp thyme
salt and pepper

Put all in crockpot, stir well and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours.. 

Wheat Bread

2 c warm water
4 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp yeast

Mix all in mixer and let proof for 5 minutes

2 tbsp olive oil or melted butter
2 tsp salt
2 c whole wheat flour
1 1/2 to 3 c all purpose flour

add the oil, salt and whole wheat flour,  mix well and add flour 1 c at a time mixing after each cup until a soft dough forms..  turn out onto floured surface and knead for about 5 minutes adding a little flour to the surface as needed to keep from sticking..  form into ball and cover and let rise for 15 minutes..   punch down and divide into 3 pieces.. form each into a loaf form and place on a greased pan,  cover and let rise until doubled about another hour and then back in a 350 degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes until a nice golden brown.