Saturday, July 3, 2010

Laughing With Angels


Have you ever had a moment when something happened so unexpected, almost unbelievable, right before your eyes, just for you, something small, personal and given just to remind you...God is here, and cares about you intimately?
May I share one little event...?
Years ago, in California, when I was almost exclusively a Goodwill and yard-sale shopper, I came across a book at a church rummage sale. I took the book home, it was a primer for Christian living published by Campus Crusade for Christ. All the pages were clean and ready for me to begin my study. After a couple of weeks, I was reading the book and a friend who often came by for prayer and talk about life came to mind as someone who would be blessed by a study book like this one. I thought how could I possibly find another book. I called all the local bookstores, no. I did not think more on this, until one day passing the Goodwill store, it came back to mind, to go in peruse the books, just maybe...So I turned around and parked in front of Goodwill. I thought, this is a long-shot, really! ... But Lord...if it were possible, it would be great to find a copy of that book! I went in and checked the books, really looked and well...not there. Ok, I know, improbable, oh well, I tried. I turned to go, looked at a few things on the way out, then stopped before leaving... I just felt that I should go back to the book shelves again, so I did. I stood before the shelves, eyes scanning the books again, and I caught my breath...there was the book! I slid it out, opened it up, it was clean, unused, exactly the same as mine! I heard angels brush by me, I laughed out loud, and I know they were laughing, too! God put that book there for me. I was amazed at the gift, that He cares for the small things in our lives and is our provider. Now, after many years later, I am trying to listen for His voice and respond to His prompting, I remembered the story of the thrift store and the book and just have to laugh again, with the angels! Improbable, impossible, not with God! (Luke 1:37)

Monday, June 28, 2010

New Way of Eating




Mr. Goodwrench and I are doing a lifestyle diet change, to bring our blood glucose to a balanced, and lower level. I have a few pictures of the first dessert, I have made for us in over a week. We have been on this diet for a week...he has, I have only been on it for 3 days. It is good, all good!
Anyway, the torte has a graham cracker crust, layer of baked cheesecake sweetened with a Stevia product (TrueVia) topped with fruit and glazed with sugar free apricot preserves. Today is the first day of using the TrueVia, so I am still evaluating it's potential as a sweetener for us. All in all, the torte was just fine. The cheesecake could have been sweeter, I only used 3 packets of the TrueVia. Maybe 5 or 6 would have done the trick.
I know, I know, this is a lower fat and lower carb/sugar torte, and yes, tastes like it, but for those who must, and I mean must, change their way of eating, this torte will suffice. It does please the eye, too!

Fruit and Cheese Torte Recipe

Crust:
1 pack low-fat graham crackers, crushed to crumbs
3 tablespoons melted butter
1 pack stevia sweetener
Mix and press into bottom of torte pan

Top:
1 8 oz. package of 1/3 fat cream cheese (this is labeled as 1/3 fat cream cheese)
4 packages stevia sweetener
2 eggs
dash of lemon juice
Blend in a blender or food processor until smooth. Pour over crust and bake in preheated 325 degree oven for 30 minutes. Remove and cool on rack. Top cheese layer with sliced and whole peaches and berries..
In microwave place bowl with 3 tablespoons sugarfree fruit preserves, I used apricot, and add 2 teaspoons water, stir and heat 1 minute. Stir and brush, over the fruit layer. Chill and top with fat-free whipped cream!

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Saturday Farmers Market & Lunch

Stopped in at "Taste of Bavaria", check out the pastry case!

Two types of Rye Boules from the Covington Market


Covington Farmers Market
3 loaves of Bread, Goat cheese, Baba ganoush and a fat stuffed Artichoke and all for $ 32.00. A lot for fresh fare, but everything was homemade, and this is the best goat cheese I have ever eaten, no kidding...!

Covington Farmers Market

Picture by Paul Swain borrowed from CFM Website

Here's what I'm talking about...yum.
Going to visit the Covington Farmers Market today!

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

AMEN to a Great Saints Football Season

Congratulations to the Superbowl Champions the New Orleans Saints. We are a happy bunch of folks down here in Louisiana and the Gulf South Region...Who Dat Nation.

I wanted to share the headline of our newspaper on Monday. A prettier one is available at this site: NOLA.com

Monday, February 1, 2010

Kumquat Harvest

What to do with the just picked Kumquats? Checked out recipes on the Kumquot Growers and found a marmalade which sounds do-able for me. I love marmalades, and this one will be unusual. Join me for the task of making marmalade click here for my recipe!

Sunday, January 31, 2010

Yummy Pineapple Upside Down Cake



Pineapple Upside Downcake using Paula Deen's recipe.
My daughter Hanna wanted to try this one. It was really good, even though we used regular flour, not cake flour.