Modifications

OOPS! I made the pumpkin lava cake from my imagination and need to make a couple of modifications, isn't life just like that? First, the changes for those of you daring enough to give it a try. The recipe needed a little more liquid so I added a total of 2 cups of water, 3 Tablespoons more oil, and another egg. This made a moist dessert. I think that a time of 2-2 1/2 hours would work well, but they must be watched after the 2nd hour. The inside of both of them; the chocolate and the pumpkin will be a little runny (that's the lava). Both received rave reviews and they were marvelous served with a dollop of whipped cream.

Isn't life a little like that? Plans to exercise this morning but discovered that my exercise buddies thought it was too cold, and a little too wet (we understand the too wet in S.California, but that excuse would never fly in Washington). So modifications were necessary...I use my treadmill instead. Had planned on getting to bed at a decent hour, but when the moment came to head for bed someone needed to talk. Modifications! Proverbs 32 says "blessed are the flexible for they shall not become frustrated." If I am truly following God, and wanting His will for my life, and I am pretty sure that this is the direction He wants me to go, but find obstacles in my way I always have a couple of choices; continue to insist my way it must be or else, or relinquish and trust; being watchful  of the direction He wanted me to go. Just like the children of Israel...God was leading them to the promised land, they would make it to the promised land, it could have been done in 20 days if they had followed obediently, but they had other plans and wanted to do things their way, it only took them 40 years. I think I would gladly submit to His plan, do it His way the first time, so the modifications are minor. Embrace the modifications that come your way today.

POTATO EXTRAVEGANZA PLUS PUMPKIN LAVA CAKE

Getting ready for tomorrow afternoon. Will be spending time with a few precious friends learning a few tasty things to do with potatoes, learning about "loving our husbands." Will be feeding our bellies and our spirits, will be a great time. Marissa Tiddle and I will be demonstrating sweet potato, oven fries, potato soup with toppers (yummm) grated cheese, scallions, sour cream and bacon. Almost like  "healthy" chili cheese fries.
Scallop potatoes for the lactose intolerant. I just came home from New Mexico where my friends have taught me how to make a lava cake in the crock-pot.

Spray your crock-pot with Pam, I mixed together a truffle cake mix from Trader Joe's, with 1 1/3cup water, 3 eggs, and 1/3 cup oil. Mix all ingredients together pour into crock-pot and top with 12-18 oz of good quality chocolate chips; Trader Joe's, Ghirardelli, or better. Bake on high for 2 1/2 to 3 hours. And while I was at bible study last night I thought that this very same recipe would be great if I used a Trader Joe's pumpkin bread mix, with the same amount of water, oil and eggs, instead of chocolate chips I will be using the white chocolate with additional cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves.

Mom's will be fed, refreshed and go home with potato soup to serve their families. Sounds like great time!

What's for Dinner?

"What's for dinner?" If I can answer that question before breakfast, my entire day seems less cluttered. Sometimes it is the nagging question that wiggles its way to my conscience, I think about it for a moment and then it goes away (unanswered). Then it will pop up again, and again and again until I give it some serious thought and attention. If I want to spend a lot of money on dinner, if I want to blow my budget on dinner, or if I don't care what those I love and myself eat then I don't have to answer the question. But for those of you who know me; I don't like wasting money on food, esp. mediocre food, I can't stand what fast food does to my wallet or my waistline, and I do care about the ingredients I use knowing they are going into the bodies of those I love.

I spoke to a friend who told me she defrosted a chicken and wants to know, "now what?" Since I told you that we had plenty of chicken on hand and a lot more meals than money before the end of the month I will tell you what I am doing with chicken. My goal is that at the end of this week they won't be staring at their plates and saying, "chicken again!!! Ugh"

Last night I cooked up some chicken just enough to take the meat off the bones. I think it is best to cook meat in some type of broth; makes for better overall flavor. This meat I cooked in a little soy sauce (I personally think Trader Joe's has some great tasting soy sauce), chicken broth and pepper. After the meat was tender, I removed all the bones and added a can of white kidney beans, black olives (I told you it was the end of the month) and a jar of peppers. To this I added some fresh cilantro and basil, a little more water and let it simmer. Then I happened to have some cream left over from waffles on Saturday morning, so I added this to the mix, then set the pot on warm. The cream will thicken the sauce a little, but be careful too much heat will cause it to separate; it won't hurt the tasted but it may look a little disgusting. This I served over rice, because at this time of the month I have plenty of rice.

A quick word about rice; this is one of those foods that we often forget about because it takes so long to cook when you want dinner on the table in 15 minutes. But rice, bless its heart, can be cooked in the morning while you are taking your shower, feeding the kids, or cleaning up after breakfast and it will wait for you all day long.

Tonight I am thinking chicken enchiladas. I don't have enchilada sauce, but I know how to make tomatoes, or tomato sauce do in a pinch, and no one at my table will be the wiser.