Spinach and Artichoke Mac & Cheese

Instead of trying to think of something to write I'll leave you all with a song that says everything.

Origional Recipe credit to Budget Savvy Diva

 http://www.budgetsavvydiva.com/2012/02/spinach-artichoke-baked-pasta/ 

What you'll need:

1 box Pasta of your choice

3 Cloves Garlic, Minced

1 1/2 cup Plain Yogurt or Sour Cream

3/4 cup Parmesan Cheese

2 cups shredded Cheese of your choosing (once again I used casserole mixed)

1 14 oz Artichoke hearts; drained, rinsed and chopped

2 hand fulls fresh Spinach or 1 10oz frozen Spinach, thawed

Preheat your oven at 425 F. Boil and drain your pasta. While its cooking mix your yogurt, Parmesan cheese and garlic.

Once your pasta is done and drained, mix your noodles and 1/2 your shredded cheese into your yogurt mixture.

Spread your noodles into a 9x13 baking dish and cover with the rest of your cheese.

Bake for 15 minutes or until the top begins to brown.

This recipe is another quick and dirty one but it easily earns 5 stars. It's great if your craving spinach and artichoke dip but want to avoid the high calories. Next time I might add some sort of meat: chicken, bacon or ham. Also I didn't chop my artichoke hearts this time around but I see the importance of doing it. My hearts were way too big but still good. 

Hope you enjoyed the song.

Cauliflower Chicken Casserole and Steps

In the turbulence of life I've been comforted lately by the assurance found in the scriptures concerning the ground which is hidden from my eyes but still awaiting my footfalls.

The steps of a man are established by the Lord,
    when he delights in his way;
24 though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong,
    for the Lord upholds his hand...

The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom,
    and his tongue speaks justice.
31 The law of his God is in his heart;
    his steps do not slip.

Psalm 37:23-24 & 30-31

The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.

Proverbs 16:9

I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.

Jeremiah 10:23

For who is God, but the Lord?
    And who is a rock, except our God?
33 This God is my strong refuge
    and has made my way blameless.
34 He made my feet like the feet of a deer
    and set me secure on the heights.
35 He trains my hands for war,
    so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
36 You have given me the shield of your salvation,
    and your gentleness made me great.
37 You gave a wide place for my steps under me,
    and my feet did not slip

2 Samuel 22:32-37

When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!”

John 21:21-22

Original recipe credit to Rachel Shultz A Household Almanac http://rachelschultz.com/2013/05/01/loaded-cauliflower-chicken-casserole/ and Closet Cooking http://www.closetcooking.com/2013/05/crispy-baked-asparagus-fries.html 

What you'll need for your casserole:

2 heads or 2 frozen bags of Cauliflower, steamed and broken up (if you've never steamed veggies here's a chart to help http://www.healwithfood.org/chart/vegetable-steaming-times.php) 

2-3 Chicken breasts, cooked and cubed

2 8oz bags Shredded Cheese of your choosing (I used Casserole mix)

1 10oz Spinach, thawed

1 clove of Garlic, minced

1-2 bundles of Green Onion, sliced

3oz Bacon pieces or Bacon bits

Healthy dashes of Jane's Crazy Mixed Up Salt

Like any good casserole the simplicity of this recipe is what does it credit. You've already done all the work by cooking your cauliflower and chicken. Mix everything together and bake covered at 350 for 25 minutes. Uncover, stir and bake for another 5 minutes.

What you'll need for Asparagus fries:

1-2 bundles of Asparagus

1/2 cup Flour

2 Eggs, beaten

3/4 cup Bread Crumbs

1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese

A few dashes of Mixed Up Salt

Wash your asparagus and cut the hard ends off. Dredge them in flour.

Mix the bread crumbs, cheese and salt together. Cover your asparagus with egg and toss in the bread crumb mixture. 

Lay out your asparagus on a baking sheet and bake at 425 for 15 minutes or until breading is browned and crispy.

Enjoy your healthy dinner!

Both these recipes incorporate really good veggies and flavors. The casserole can be changed up easily enough if you so desire. Next time I might substitute kielbasa for chicken and add broccoli. I give them both 5 stars.

Pirate Banana Bread and Hard Humility

As any hard season should, this one I find myself in has challenged me to stand on the faith I profess with both feet. In the past it has been so easy to find security in what I was doing and/or where I was headed. At this present moment I find that there is nothing material, vocational or otherwise left for me to find a foothold in. Reevaluating my motivations and my definition of security has been incredibly humbling because all my personal efforts have been brushed aside and proven insufficient. As if to spell it out for me, my book club, ironically, recently started reading Humility by Andrew Murray. In the very first chapter of Murray's book I found the exact description of what my faith and life as a Christian are being molded into by God: 

"But as God is the ever-living, ever-present, ever-acting One, who upholdeth all things by the word of His power, and in whom all things exist, the relationship of the creature to God could only be one of unceasing, absolute, universal dependence."

When Israel stood on the edge of the Promised Land in Deuteronomy 8 they were advised to remember how God had sustained them in the desert. "And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord." (Deuteronomy 8:3) Indeed, even their shoes held up after wandering in the desert for 40 years. As someone who has actually wandered in the desert I can tell you that is pretty impressive. God saw to their every need after removing every practical way for them to provide for themselves. Where were they going to find food, new clothes and shelter in the desert? They weren't, they were to remain faithful and ever dependent on Him. God was going to provide EVERYTHING. Bread came down from heaven, water came forth from rocks, raiding bands were held off...none of these things were done by the power of the Israelites. There was a faithful God who, then and now, protected and provided for his often unfaithful people.

Faith is devoid of fear. I will no longer fear the uncertainty because "He who promises is faithful" (Hebrews 10:23b). I am merely an earthen vessel at the disposal of the Potter. My self sufficient streak, however, keeps rebelling against the blind faith that is, in reality, my only option. In no way does this mean I have learned this lesson. My heart is truly thankful that I, like Israel, have such a faithful and patience Teacher.

Original Recipe Credit to My Baking Addiction blog
http://www.mybakingaddiction.com/rum-coconut-banana-bread/#_a5y_p=3418730 

What you'll need:
4-5 over ripe Bananas, mashed
2 Eggs, beaten
1/2 cup unsalted Butter (1 stick)
1 tsp Vanilla
3/4 cup light Brown sugar, packed
3 Tbs dark Rum (I used Kracken, it has a good caramel flavor)
2 cups all purpose Flour
1 tsp Baking soda
1/2 tsp Cinnamon

Preheat your oven to 350. Using an electric mixer cream the butter and sugar together for about 2 minutes. Then add eggs, vanilla, bananas and rum, and mix everything thoroughly.

Next stir in your dry ingredients.

Once everything is well mixed together pour your batter into a greased loaf pan (9x5). 

Bake your bread for about an hour or until the center is no longer doughy.

Feel free to add nuts, cinnamon chips, raisins or shredded coconut. Enjoy your bread with some butter in the morning before going about your raiding and pillaging. 

I loved this different take on classic banana bread. 5 stars