Monday, January 9, 2012
"What's for Dinner, Nurse?"
When my mother was a nurse years ago she cared for a patient who had little to do but look forward to the next meal. At the start of breakfast she would ask, "What's for dinner, Nurse?"
We've chuckled over that one.
Proverbs 13:25 says "the Righteous eat to live, but the wicked live to eat."
Convicting words, when you are in the kitchen trying to scrounge up some vittles that are appetizing!
After a busy day at Corgi Hollows the last thing I want to do is fix dinner. But I've come up with a plan that has really been a life-saver for this family.
I've read "all" the books on home organizing :), and I've gleaned a few tidbits of information about dinner prep and planning. I've even looked into the once-a-month cooking option (too much work!) and other nice ideas for variety, like following the "Woman's Day" meal calendar. But I've resorted to this fool-proof and easy to vary pattern.
Monday: Pot Roast (with fresh french bread or mashed potatoes)
Tuesday: Chicken night (usually from Costco----So inexpensive to serve!) with rice---or ?
Wednesday: Italian Night----pizza, spaghetti, or (rarely) lasagna
Thursday: SURPRISE! (Leftovers or a casserole, if I'm in the mood). Or something Completely Different.
Friday: Fish and vegetables
Saturday: Burgers on the grill and shakes, or hotdogs on the campfire with s'mores
Sunday: Stir fry
As all of us live lives that are fast-paced and full of activity this plan rarely plays out the entire week. It has been something to fall back on, and my grocery shopping is fairly straightforward.
I keep lots of frozen vegetables in the freezer, and canned green beans. You can't serve enough of these! I also buy lots of fresh fruit, which I "push" on my kids. (Costco fruit is wonderful!)
Even though I am not much of a cook, I do like to bake, and I enjoy having a home-baked dessert on hand.
Having had a rich heritage of great cooks and bakers on both my husband's side of the family and mine I have a treasure trove of excellent recipes to make for my family. Sometimes I think it would be fun to make my own collection in a book form, but that won't happen for awhile yet. I confess to collecting cookbooks too. I like to read the recipes more than make them! I suppose that is its own form of gluttony?!
This New Year I'm trying something a little different that I read about. It is a plan to correct the PH balance in the blood by adding more alkaline foods to the diet. I have been eating lots of spinach, green tea, molasses, and carrots to counter-act the acid foods I prefer. I'm giving it the college try! I think it might have helped my brain activity already! (Now that's something!)
It's Monday and the pot-roast is almost done. Sweet potatoes just got popped in the oven and I've got asparagus ready to heat. I'm on track today!
(And school has started for 4 out of my 5!) Almost full throttle.
We've chuckled over that one.
Proverbs 13:25 says "the Righteous eat to live, but the wicked live to eat."
Convicting words, when you are in the kitchen trying to scrounge up some vittles that are appetizing!
After a busy day at Corgi Hollows the last thing I want to do is fix dinner. But I've come up with a plan that has really been a life-saver for this family.
I've read "all" the books on home organizing :), and I've gleaned a few tidbits of information about dinner prep and planning. I've even looked into the once-a-month cooking option (too much work!) and other nice ideas for variety, like following the "Woman's Day" meal calendar. But I've resorted to this fool-proof and easy to vary pattern.
Monday: Pot Roast (with fresh french bread or mashed potatoes)
Tuesday: Chicken night (usually from Costco----So inexpensive to serve!) with rice---or ?
Wednesday: Italian Night----pizza, spaghetti, or (rarely) lasagna
Thursday: SURPRISE! (Leftovers or a casserole, if I'm in the mood). Or something Completely Different.
Friday: Fish and vegetables
Saturday: Burgers on the grill and shakes, or hotdogs on the campfire with s'mores
Sunday: Stir fry
As all of us live lives that are fast-paced and full of activity this plan rarely plays out the entire week. It has been something to fall back on, and my grocery shopping is fairly straightforward.
I keep lots of frozen vegetables in the freezer, and canned green beans. You can't serve enough of these! I also buy lots of fresh fruit, which I "push" on my kids. (Costco fruit is wonderful!)
Even though I am not much of a cook, I do like to bake, and I enjoy having a home-baked dessert on hand.
Having had a rich heritage of great cooks and bakers on both my husband's side of the family and mine I have a treasure trove of excellent recipes to make for my family. Sometimes I think it would be fun to make my own collection in a book form, but that won't happen for awhile yet. I confess to collecting cookbooks too. I like to read the recipes more than make them! I suppose that is its own form of gluttony?!
This New Year I'm trying something a little different that I read about. It is a plan to correct the PH balance in the blood by adding more alkaline foods to the diet. I have been eating lots of spinach, green tea, molasses, and carrots to counter-act the acid foods I prefer. I'm giving it the college try! I think it might have helped my brain activity already! (Now that's something!)
It's Monday and the pot-roast is almost done. Sweet potatoes just got popped in the oven and I've got asparagus ready to heat. I'm on track today!
(And school has started for 4 out of my 5!) Almost full throttle.
Friday, January 6, 2012
"Future Classics"
My dear friend who teaches in Budapest was home for Christmas and while here gifted my husband and me 2 tickets to the Minnesota Orchestra for this evening's concert.
What a treat!
Six young composers had their works performed by this great orchestra, and the result was really marvelous!
I think "modern" music has turned a corner from dissonance into sound quality appreciation. The noise was pleasant and thought provoking.
I think I enjoyed the work by the Chinese composer the most, but the first piece of the evening, a premier work by a young man from Downer's Grove, IL, was also really good.
I had never before the chance to see Osmo Vanska conduct, and that was fun too. What energy!
Some of us listen to NPR/MPR radio a lot, and Fred Child, host of a daily NPR program was the host for this concert tonight. He did a good job interviewing the young composers----and that was much of the fun of the evening. It was very entertaining.
Thanks Elaine, for a wonderful evening!
What a treat!
Six young composers had their works performed by this great orchestra, and the result was really marvelous!
I think "modern" music has turned a corner from dissonance into sound quality appreciation. The noise was pleasant and thought provoking.
I think I enjoyed the work by the Chinese composer the most, but the first piece of the evening, a premier work by a young man from Downer's Grove, IL, was also really good.
I had never before the chance to see Osmo Vanska conduct, and that was fun too. What energy!
Some of us listen to NPR/MPR radio a lot, and Fred Child, host of a daily NPR program was the host for this concert tonight. He did a good job interviewing the young composers----and that was much of the fun of the evening. It was very entertaining.
Thanks Elaine, for a wonderful evening!
Thursday, January 5, 2012
While Awaiting my Son's Return
I get to "surf" the internet once in awhile, especially when I'm waiting for children to arrive home at night. They work, go to school, attend parties, and spend time with friends, and I just don't rest well until their cars are home on icy nights. I'm supposing there are a few other parents like me.
Tonight I found this little gem on one of my favorite political blogs, http://lucianne.com/. It's an article about yoga, and I was surprised to see it in the New York Times.
I am mostly concerned about the spiritual consequences of practicing yoga, but here are evidences that it can damage the "flesh" too.
How Yoga Can Wreck Your Body
Being aware is half the battle.
Tonight I found this little gem on one of my favorite political blogs, http://lucianne.com/. It's an article about yoga, and I was surprised to see it in the New York Times.
I am mostly concerned about the spiritual consequences of practicing yoga, but here are evidences that it can damage the "flesh" too.
How Yoga Can Wreck Your Body
Being aware is half the battle.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Biblical Christians
"The only way Biblical Christians today can survive without going all ghettoish is to remind ourselves that every doctrine we live and teach has been boringly normal across the centuries of Church history. It's only the hirelings of our own time who call these doctrines monstrous"
--Tim Bayly
I described myself recently to a group of women as a "Biblical Christian." Isn't it funny to think that we must now qualify our religious label?
But we must.
Christianity, thankfully, is professing Christ Jesus as God.
What can be so difficult about that?
Well it seems to be. I once had a discussion with someone I thought I knew pretty well, and we discovered that our faith views were in fact miles apart. Yet we both call ourselves Christian.
We all know denominational differences, but I'm talking about the deeper stuff: division versus unification.
Doctrine is fascinating, and somehow we believers find each other in this maze of theological difference. Doctrine matters. Like Tim Bayly said, reassuringly, it has survived millenniums of skepticism and criticism. Biblical Doctrine, that is.
Take heart. Christ Jesus has overcome the World. Our divisions will no longer matter when we see His face.
In the meantime, please read your Bible. :)
--Tim Bayly
I described myself recently to a group of women as a "Biblical Christian." Isn't it funny to think that we must now qualify our religious label?
But we must.
Christianity, thankfully, is professing Christ Jesus as God.
What can be so difficult about that?
Well it seems to be. I once had a discussion with someone I thought I knew pretty well, and we discovered that our faith views were in fact miles apart. Yet we both call ourselves Christian.
We all know denominational differences, but I'm talking about the deeper stuff: division versus unification.
Doctrine is fascinating, and somehow we believers find each other in this maze of theological difference. Doctrine matters. Like Tim Bayly said, reassuringly, it has survived millenniums of skepticism and criticism. Biblical Doctrine, that is.
Take heart. Christ Jesus has overcome the World. Our divisions will no longer matter when we see His face.
In the meantime, please read your Bible. :)
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Blessings for Your New Year
January 1 is such a boundary.
Our bodies change little. Our circumstances rarely alter. But our thoughts often look ahead with wonder, fear, or anticipation.
Perhaps there is a wedding for you in 2012? A birth of a new child or a graduation?
I tend to mark my life up with these momentous events like most people.
And then come the things that you never waited for.
And these can be your greatest blessings, bringing unavoidable CHANGE.
We have a choice in making that outcome positive. I purpose to accept, with grace, those changes. I'd ask for prayer, and pray that for all of us. God's blessings are unlimited, and His love is boundlessly eternal. It is a constant in our changing lives.
I learned of the death of a dear friend yesterday. He was promoted to glory and no one wishes him back, but he is terribly missed. Change.
Reading Radical, by David Platt. I think his message is all about good change. May you experience Good Change in 2012.
God bless you!
Our bodies change little. Our circumstances rarely alter. But our thoughts often look ahead with wonder, fear, or anticipation.
Perhaps there is a wedding for you in 2012? A birth of a new child or a graduation?
I tend to mark my life up with these momentous events like most people.
And then come the things that you never waited for.
And these can be your greatest blessings, bringing unavoidable CHANGE.
We have a choice in making that outcome positive. I purpose to accept, with grace, those changes. I'd ask for prayer, and pray that for all of us. God's blessings are unlimited, and His love is boundlessly eternal. It is a constant in our changing lives.
I learned of the death of a dear friend yesterday. He was promoted to glory and no one wishes him back, but he is terribly missed. Change.
Reading Radical, by David Platt. I think his message is all about good change. May you experience Good Change in 2012.
God bless you!
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