My favorite Crock-Pot! (and DF days 9-16)

I have to rave about my crock pot for a few minutes.

I have had this crock pot for about 6 years.  It has seen me through many a cold winter and provided my belly with delicious and hearty meals.  About a year ago, I was getting ready to make a pot of soup when I noticed the handle on the lid was partially broken.  If you know anything about crock pots and their lids, you understand my challenge.  You really need to be able to lift the lid without getting burned by the heat/steam/etc.  I was making due with the back end of a spatula to prop up one of the sides and using a pot holder, I could grab the other side and lift the lid in order to stir or add other ingredients, BUT this was only a temporary solution.  So for a period of time, I just stopped using the crock-pot, all together.  Then over the summer, I read an article that expressed the level of value companies place in customer service.  I took a shot and emailed the customer service department for "Crock-Pot". 

What do you know?!

The asked for some key pieces of information and sent me a new lid FREE OF CHARGE!

I received it in a few days and have been using it and raving about the brand, "Crock Pot" ever since!

Why do you love your crock pot?  Do you think one brand is better than others?  Have you even had a situation where a company replaced a part FREE of charge?

Let me know in the comments below.  And don't forget to subscribe!

Be blessed!

Teri

Okay, changes

Normally, I don't like changes. Not right away anyway and not in all aspects in life. In work somehow I can adapt easily, but in daily life and when I don't choose the change.  NO Thank you!  (blog design doesn't not apply to this example - I love changing those - lol)  

Well a little over six months ago, I didn't get to choose to lose my job.  I really loved the work that I did there.  I was good at it.  I enjoyed it. I made an impact on my customers and co-workers and was well liked by my team and others.

I really didn't want to hear that there was another plan.  I mean, I knew there was. I just didn't want to hear it at that moment and for a few months after that.  I really didn't understand it and I'm not saying that I am totally in the know at the moment, but, I do know there is a reason bigger than, "sorry, people aren't refinancing anymore and we are going to have to let you go."  I do not know what that is and frankly sometimes I wonder what could possibly be a better fit for me.  But I know the Almighty sees all whereas I only see my little speck on the planet.

So here's to bigger and better things. New job is on the horizon, I know it is coming soon. The in between is really hard.  That is part of the reason I chose the Daniel Fast also. For breakthrough.  Boy, do I need a breakthrough.  as I come into the home stretch, so to speak, I am pressing in and expecting one. 

Please share your comments and don't forget to subscribe below.  
 
Thanks and Be Blessed!


Teri

Part 2 Day 8 DF with Oven-Roasted Greek Potatoes

How to make these delicious little yellow bites of delicious, you ask?

Aw, have no fear.. your recipe for them is up next!

Another great one from Susan Gregory's Daniel Fast book, The Daniel Fast.

  

Ingredients:
food processor
parchment paper
1 cup extra virgin olive oil
3 pounds large russet potatoes cut lengthwise into thick wedges or quartered
tip: make sure you wash the potatoes first, fill a large bowl with water and put potatoes in, you can use a small amount of veggie wash if you choose right in the bowl.  Swish and rinse. Then cut into quarters.
2 lemons, juiced (tip: if you don't have a juicer, roll the lemons (unpeeled) on the counter-top a few times to loosen the juice before you cut it in half. Then, squeeze into a separate bowl or cup. If seeds get in the juice, use a strainer over the food processor and pour the bowl with juice in it over the strainer over the food processor.)
1 clove fresh garlic, minced
1/4 cup finely chopped yellow onion
1 tbsp dried oregano
1/4 cup fresh Italian parsley, coarsely chopped (Rinse it off well: add water to a bowl, take a few sprigs out of a bunch and swish in the water a few times and remove to drain on paper towel or napkin/clean towel)
Salt and freshly ground pepper

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
2. To make vinaigrette, place olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, onion, oregano, and parsley in a food processor, add 1 tsp salt, puree until smooth, adjust seasoning with black pepper and more salt if needed.

 

3. Toss the potatoes in a large bowl and toss with 1/2 the vinaigrette, spread in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet (lining with parchment paper will make getting off the pan much easier).

4. Place in pre-heated oven and roast turning occasionally for 45-60 minutes until the potatoes are fork tender and golden brown.

5. Serve potatoes in a large platter and drizzle with more of the vinaigrette, serve the remaining vinaigrette on the side or use later as a salad dressing.

That's it!  Easy, right?

Post your comments below and let me know how you like these!! Don't forget to Subscribe!

Another recipe from The Daniel Fast book by Susan Gregory.

Be Blessed!

Teri

Bean Curry and Quinoa (or Rice) (aka OH MAH GOODNESS) Part 1

Day 8 goes down with a new favorite recipe.  Below is the finished product, using Quinoa, but you can also use rice (which is what the recipe was calling for, but I was in more of a Quinoa mood, plus it cooks faster than brown rice).

Ingredients:
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (my favorite brand, also the last time I bought, I got the small bottle for under $5 at Giant. Don't know if that deal is still up though - about 2 or 3 weeks ago)
1 large white onion, chopped
1/2 cup dry lentils
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 tbsp curry powder
1 tsp ground cumin
1 pinch cayenne pepper
1 can crushed tomatoes (28 oz)
1 can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed (15 oz)
1 can kidney beans, drained and rinsed (8 oz)
1/2 cup raisins (if you don't like raisins, like me, use them anyway, I'm telling you it really makes the dish so much better!!! YUM)
8 cups cooked brown rice (or quinoa)
salt and pepper to taste (I used Himalayan sea salt from Marshall's (yes, the clothing store - they have great kitchen finds too!)

Directions:
1. Prepare the brown rice (or Quinoa) according to package directions so you have enough for 8 servings.
2. Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat, and cook onion until tender
3. Mix in the lentils and garlic, and season with curry powder, cumin, and cayenne pepper. Cook and stir 2 minutes.

4. Stir in the tomatoes, garbanzo beans, kidney beans, and raisins. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Reduce heat to low, and simmer at least 1 hour, stirring constantly.

Recipe from The Daniel Plan, by Susan Gregory.

Please share your comments and don't forget to subscribe below.  Have you tried to make this yet?

Be Blessed!

Teri

Hello Pilates, my dear old friend ..and DF days 6, 7, & 8

More and more in the news, on talk shows, and online there is much more talk of health. And not just health for  the sake of eating your apple a day, but the beneficial-for-us-to-know-and-embrace kind. For instance, for the first time in quite a long while, I've heard mention of the dangers of white sugar, high fructose corn syrup, GMOs in food, etc. and the detrimental health affects if consumed over a period of time they can have. (Like the food, most of us grew up on..sigh) There are actually states refusing GMO foods!  Hey, it's a step in the right direction.

One of my favorite blogs, by Max Goldberg, is a very helpful site when learning about GMOs, organic foods, clean (er) eating, etc.  If you 've never heard of Max Goldberg or a GMO, I would encourage you to take a look through his blog. If they're listed and they're dealing with organics, they are my top site choices. I'm not currently getting any kind of promotion credit from their sites or anything, I just believe in what they say and like to use some of the guidelines from each and integrate into my daily regimen as I can.  That being said, I'm not a doctor and if you are sick, go to your doctor.

So in light of all this GMO talk and health, I finally felt good enough today, to go about reacquainting myself with Pilates.  This is my favorite form of exercise in the Fall and Winter. In Spring and Summer, I prefer to be outside on a bike.  But with an injury suffered in January, biking was off the table this Spring and Summer.  After a refreshing RICE treatment for my poor little knees today, I thought it was time. (Yay!)

In my humble opinion, Mari Windsor's Pilates DVDs are the best.  And yes, even that "wonderful Windsor Band, we all love" is actually pretty dandy! I have a bunch of her videos that I bought a few years ago.  I always feel better after and my back gets loosened up as well as my hips.  The other thing I like, is there is no judgement from her.  She seems practical and realistic in helping you sculpt yourself into strong, lean, and long muscle.

Now for day 6, 7 & 8 DF fast...  Saturday was tough due to some physical pain. I prayed through it and put ice packs on each knee. I laid low and listened to my body, which told me to relax and just don't move around much. I have been realizing more and more how much I really enjoy the bible study portion of my mornings. especially those days I have to rush off to work.  The weekends are a little difference because there is really no time constraint. Sunday (day 7) I made 2 new dishes:

Rice with Bean Curry. and Greek Potatoes (recipe and picture link coming soon!!) SO  GOOD  !!

I will post the recipe and photos tomorrow, I promise, but I wanted to get this up before bedtime - eek!

Please share your comments and don't forget to subscribe below. 

Be Blessed.

Teri

Daniel Fast Days 4 - 5, raisins, and a technical tip

I'll give you the tip first because I can't believe I let things go this far..  I typically leave my work up on my computer - at night and really, during the week also. You know, because it is such an 'inconvenience' to reopen your tabs on chrome (not). Chrome is the best browser, in my opinion. The thing I most like about Chrome, aside from it rarely crashing, is that you can set your tabs to reopen up to certain pages every time you restart your computer and open the browsing page.

Yes, I know, we all hear from the IT guys at work that shutting down every night is ideal. So, I imagine this just boils down to laziness? Hmm..  Perhaps, I need to readjust my priorities.. it would certainly save my little computer some 24/7/365 anxiety.. or whatever it is that the processor "feels" by being overworked.. poor 'lil guy..

Okay, personification over.  My internet is again working and my little computer didn't crash. Phew!

I didn't have a chance to post last night.

I wanted to share the delicious creation I had planned to make prior to my computer "scare."

No new creation - tomorrow I plan to make more flat bread - this time from rye flour.  Same basic recipe.  I will include process photos too.

Daniel Fast for days 4 and 5 came with a delicious new respect for raisins, albeit the yellow ones.  I mentioned in my last post a recipe I made which included them.  If you are not normally a fan of raisins, I would urge you to try them in this recipe and see what you think.  Take it from someone who has picked raisins out of every thing from cookies to rice pudding and anything else in between. Go figure too, because I love grapes!

I think because they were cooked the sweet flavor was less intense.  Also, coupled with the sunflower seeds - or nuts, if you choose - and spicing, the flavors just seems to meld together nicely.

Have you tried this or a similar recipe before?  Let me know if you plan to try it and your results in the comments below.  Don't forget to subscribe!

Thanks for reading!  Be blessed!

Teri

Quinoa and Veggie Bake (Daniel Fast Day 3)

Day 3 came and boy, waking up earlier and earlier is great!  I hope to continue this even after the fast.

As I do love the barley soup, I was getting tired of it and spent a few minutes looking for a recipe.
I didn't want anything super complicated and I didn't want to have to shop for anything. Here's what I found in Susan Gregory's book: The Daniel Plan, and here is the recipe:

Ingredients:
3 to 4 quart covered casserole dish
1 cup Quinoa (organic is best, I pay $3.49/pound at Wegman's bulk section.. I've seen it for $7.99/lb so this is a steal)
1/4 cup raisins - I used yellow raisins and while not a lover of raisins, they made the dish quite tasty.
1/4 cup raw sunflower seeds (if you can't handle seeds, you can leave these out)
2 bay leaves
2 TBSP Extra Virgin Olive Oil (I like "California" brand of EVOO best, you can also use Coconut oil. If you don't like the scent of coconut, you can purchase it deodorized so it has no smell - it doesn't have to be organic, just make sure it is not refined.)
1 Cup celery
2 medium carrots, diced
2 small zucchini, diced (I used 1 medium squash because I had it and didn't have zucchini)
1 tsp ground coriander
A pinch of cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp dried ginger
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1-1/2 to 1-3/4 cups boiling water
1/4 cup minced parsley or cilantro for garnish

1. Soak the quinoa for an hour in a bowl, then rinse until the water runs clear using a fine mesh strainer. 

2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (I didn't preheat the oven till about 7 or 8 minutes on the timer for the quinoa)
3. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat; add the celery and saute until it starts to become transparent ; add the carrots and cook for 5 more minutes; add the zucchini and cook for about one minute more.
4. Add the coriander, cayenne pepper, ginger, cinnamon, cumin, salt, and pepper, adjusting the seasoning to your liking. Add the quinoa, raisins, sunflower seeds, and bay leaves; stir until integrated and continue cooking until vegetables are tender, about 3 more minutes.  

5. Pour the vegetable and quinoa mixture into a 3 to 4 quart casserole dish with lid; add the boiling water or broth; cover.
6. Bake for 20 minutes or until all the water is absorbed.
7. Remove Bay Leaves.  Garnish dish with fresh minced parsley or cilantro before serving. 

I tried to make the font as small as possible for this one since the recipe took up most of the post.  This was really a delicious recipe and I will be making this again.  You can really swap out any of the recipes that maybe are not a favorite of your kids, spouse, or even yourself.  I didn't have celery, so I used a small yellow onion and the zucchini I used was actually a yellow squash. I also added mushrooms because I needed to used them up and I love button mushrooms.

Please let me know in the comments if you liked or didn't like this recipe.  Again, this one came from Susan Gregory's book, so the credit is not mine.  I'm not sure if she created it or got it elsewhere but I would guess it was her creation.

Enjoy and let me know what you think in the comments below! And don't forget to subscribe!

Be blessed!

 

Teri

Daniel Fast Day 2 and popcorn

Here we are on day 2. While my menu remains not really changed from Day 1 except dinner where I had some of the Chapattis I made and am debating on popping some popcorn, organic and non-gmo, of course.

I will definitely be making this flat bread again. (just flour, salt, and water)  It probably made about 8 or 9.  I could have made them thinner perhaps, but they are wonderful even when not fasting. I had them tonight along with some black bean hummus I also made using a recipe found in Susan Gregory's book, "The Daniel Fast" and will be sharing links as soon as I can on both of these recipes and photos - hoping by tomorrow.

The experience of making my own flat bread left me feeling like a "carefree" Old Testament gal, making my own flat bread. (Yes, I realize the irony, as for many who would be making their own bread, their lives were anything but carefree) scenes from old biblical movies flashed in my mind and I couldn't help but drift back there for a second or two in my mind.

Have you ever done a fast?  Do you have any suggestions or things you'd like to see?  Do you have any fasting suggestions in general?  I'd love to hear your comments and any questions you may have below.

Please share your comments and don't forget to subscribe below.  Have you tried to make this yet?

Thanks and Be Blessed!

Teri

Daniel Fast Day 1

So, today was Day 1 of the Daniel Fast.

The fast that I am following is according to the book written by Susan Gregory, "The Daniel Fast." Susan was inspired by God to write about this plan as a way of fasting. She writes in her book, "Fasting is a powerful spiritual discipline designed by out Creator to draw us closer to Him, and the Daniel Fast is an experience for your whole person: body, soul, and spirit."  Just reading that sentence in the introduction portion of the book settles any anxious thoughts. At least it did that for me.

I have to say, I do feel different physically at the end of my day today, partially due to eating cleaner foods. I feel far less "full" and completely satisfied. I do not crave the sweets as I may have before: Nutter Butters, Cookie Dough Ice cream (or let's face it, most any flavor as long as it's ooey and gooey), pie, brownies, etc...)  As I was sitting down reflecting after dinner at around 8pm, I really wondered if anything had happened today, in my heart or my mind, etc. After all, I thought, it's just the first day.  Am I too hopeful that anything should change on day 1? The thing is, something did change inside. I"m actually full and satisfied, not over-full or bloated from stuffing my face. I have to thank the Almighty and his Holy Spirit for that.

In case you are wondering what I ate today, here is my menu below:

All of my food was prepared in my kitchen from something grown or mildly produced (flour and oat bran is milled, etc.):



Breakfast:
Oat bran (Bob's Red Mill Organic)
Diced organic apple (bag of organic apples from Aldi)
Cinnamon
Caraway seed
Raisins or sunflower seeds (optional - I forgot to add sunflower seeds but I plan to tomorrow)

Snack:
2 rice cakes
Organic peanut butter (no sugar or sweetener added)
Black bean hummus
Carrots and cucumbers

Lunch:
Homemade veggie barley soup

Dinner:
Had the barley soup again because I really did love it earlier today.
Had just made the Chapattis (Indian flat bread), so I got to enjoy some of those with the soup.

And of course, plenty of water.

I am looking forward to the remaining 20 days of this fast and of the changes about to take place in my heart and soul and spirit.

Amen!

P.S. Don't forget to subscribe below! Thanks!

Teri

Daniel Fast Prep

After much considering, praying, reflecting, I have decided to do a 21 day Daniel Fast.  I am new to fasting so would love to hear your experiences with the fast - this one or any others you have enjoyed.

Prepping for Day one through probably day three took place the last 2 days.

I decided to start on the Daniel Fast for Spiritual Connection, Self Control, and Weight Loss.  I purchased the book called The Daniel Fast by Susan Gregory.  It arrived over the weekend and I will be using the guide throughout the fast.  I am very excited to see where God would meet me and where he will take me.

I've done a Daniel Fast before in 2012 but with my church and for 40 days.  This one, however, was not guided - as we were free to choose the type of fast and how we would set ourselves up on and with it - and may have allowed for some foods which are not really to be eaten for these 21 days.

I will let you know the outcome of day 1 tomorrow!!

Here I go!

Please share your fasting experiences in the comment area below. I'd love to hear your ideas and of your breakthroughs.

Please share your comments and don't forget to subscribe below.  

Be Blessed!

 

Teri