Month: March 2023

Posted in Uplifting

Spring

Posted on by junebugphx

Yes! Spring is here, at least on the calendar. I can smell and see the early signs of spring; the trees are starting to bud; the early flowers have made their way through the soil and are blooming. Even with all this early activity I can’t help but wonder is spring really here to stay or will winter make a comeback?

Will the snow once again blanket the ground instead of the flowers and grass? Will the weather stay a wonderful temperature of not too hot but just that nice mellow warm of in-between summer and winter? As I wonder about the season, we are just starting to enter I find myself mirroring that same feeling for myself. I feel the urge of new life within me, as though I’m starting to come back to life from the winter of ups and downs of cancer. I feel the excitement of new possibilities and zest for life like never before. As though fear has nothing on cancer so why not truly seize the day and truly live while I can. Then the thoughts of will the cancer come back or a secondary one be found?

These back-and-forth thoughts of mine are just as fickle as the weather in early spring, but I know I’m not alone. You don’t have to have cancer to hear the whispers of self-doubt. We all have them, from relationships, career and living out our dreams. Those whispers can keep us from living the life we are meant to live. The whispers of winter can keep you thinking it last forever, that the promise of new life will never come. So, maybe what we need to do is treat those whispers of fear the same way as being followed because those whispers can take your life just like the stranger if left unchecked.

The first is…

Keep calm, acknowledge what’s happening. I know this can be hard, but you can’t ever see the bottom of the pan when the water is boiling, you need it to cool down first.

Pay attention, take those thoughts captive, be alert, don’t let the fear consume you. Don’t just go through life and let thoughts consume you. Be in charge of them, like 2 Corinthians 10:5 “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

Ask for help, Prayer is a big one for me. You can also find someone you trust to confide in because sometimes those whispers are nothing more than a kitty with a very big shadow following you and when spoken out loud you are able to see the truth.

Spring may seem to be on hold BUT it’s still coming, and I can look forward to new life no matter what the calendar or scans say.

Isaiah 43:19

19 See, I am doing a new thing!
    Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
    and streams in the wasteland

Posted in Recipes

Lentil Goulash

Posted on by junebugphx

Goulash is a dish that I have always enjoyed but few in my household growing up and even now with my adult children understand why I like this dish so much. I find it a great combination of simplicity meets hardy and there you have goulash. Hungarian goulash is found as far back as the end of the 18th century, as a peasant dish made in the open air by shepherds using kettles. Maybe knowing this you may open you heart just a little to try it again but without the meat.

I may have those early shepherds rolling over in their graves with this recipe or have a few say this is not a true goulash because I took out the meat but whatever the case, I couldn’t help but enjoy this dish and thought it would be great to share, with the health benefits of lentils like the fact that lentils are packed with B vitamins, magnesium, zinc, and potassium. Plus, they are made up of 25% of protein! This dish packs a punch with some really great nutritional value as well as a fast meal if you are in a time crunch and on a budget, which let’s face it most of us are looking for ways to cut that grocery bill.

Lentil Goulash:

1 Cup dried lentils (I used red, they cook a little faster so times will be different using brown/green)

2 – 3 cups of veggie broth or 2-3 cups water and 8 tsp of powdered veggie bouillon (the amount of liquid will depend on the type of lentils so look at the package for the correct amount)

2 – 2 1/2 cups of macaroni noodles cooked to almost done per packaged directions, you will want to leave them a little al dente.

1 14.5 ounce can of crushed tomatoes, not chopped you need the crushed for this dish, so you have a little sauce.

1 small white onion

3-4 cloves of diced garlic

2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil

1 bay leaf, Italian dried herb seasonings, sea salt, black and white pepper per your taste

If so desired top with shredded parmesan

Cook the macaroni noodles according to the package directions, drain then rinse noodles. This can be done while the lentils are simmering.

In a large skillet over medium high heat add olive oil, garlic and onion. Sauté until the onions are translucent add crushed tomatoes and seasonings sauteing a few more minutes then add lentils, veggie broth (or water and bouillon) let simmer for about 20 minutes, but the cooking times will vary depending on the type of lentils you use so look at the package and adjust accordingly. When the lentils are almost done add the noodles simmer for about 5-10 minutes, remove the bay leaf then serve and top with parmesan if so desired.

Posted in Uplifting

Accusers

Posted on by junebugphx

Do you remember the fun activity of writing in the dirt or sand? You’d write with a stick or finger, maybe play tick tack toe perhaps another game of looking at footprints and trying to figure out who they belonged to. Any of these are fun but they always make me think of the story in the Bible where Jesus wrote in the sand when the women was caught in adultery.

The woman was brought to Jesus by the Pharisees, we might think of them as hypocrites or maybe the hall monitors of the time, they wanted to tattle on the sinful women testing Jesus, he knew this and rose above it by writing in the dirt and asking who is without sin to cast the first stone. He wrote twice in the dirt who knows what was written but when the Pharisees read it and then asked who is without sin to cast the first stone, they could do nothing but walk away leaving only the women on the ground and Jesus. (John 8:1-11)

I have for years read and loved this story, I feel the love and compassion coming alive from the pages but today something more came to me. I read and reread this because in the passages it says a few things I never got before.

First it says Jesus straightened up and asked the women where are you accusers? At first glance you are probably thinking no big deal but the fact that Jesus was mentioned as straightening up (or he stood up) means he was on the women’s level. Yes, he was at her level the son of God on the level of an adulterous women and then he stood up not a judgmental stance but to show this woman she too could stand tall.

Second, He asked her a question then waited for her answer. He gave her respect by asking then waiting for a reply. After showing her respect he wanted her to see for herself that those that brought her to him were gone and he did not condemn her so why stay on the ground but stand tall don’t do it again. Walk away holding her head high know she was loved and should live that way.

I thought how many times I forget to open my eyes; I stay on the ground beating myself up for the things I have done, I forget to stand up then walk away living loved. I forget I can live no longer condemned a life to its’s fullest loved and forgiven. Whether I live feeling condemned or turn into a Pharisee the hall monitors with the judgments for others neither on is the way God wants us to live.

Maybe a good thing to write down and remember daily is, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you? She said no, sir and Jesus said neither do I condemn you.”

Posted in Recipes

Quinoa-Lentil Veggie Burgers

Posted on by junebugphx

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(Daniel Plan Cookbook)

Maybe it’s the thought of spring not too far away but I thought I would share this great recipe that came from a cookbook called “Dainiel Plan.” I have made variations of this recipe so you can take it and have fun with it, plus its a great start to try out a meatless option for when Summer and all those BBQ dinners are here.

Quinoa-Lentil Veggie Burgers:

6 ounces brown or white mushrooms

2 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 Cup of chopped onion

3 large garlic cloves, minced.

1 Tablespoon wheat-free tamari or soy sauce

1/4 Cup chopped fresh parsley.

2 Tablespoon chopped fresh oregano.

1/4 Teaspoon black pepper

1 (15 ounce) can cooked lentils, rinsed and drained

1 large egg beaten.

1/2 Cup (or more) breadcrumbs

4 Tablespoon grated parmesan cheese

4 Teaspoon coarse or whole grain Dijon mustard

For the Toppings/garnish

5 slices mozzarella or jack cheese

5 whole grain or gluten-free buns

Lettuce leaves

5 large slices tomato

These are such a great alternative to hamburgers. You can cook them in the house or in no time BBQ season will be here, making this recipe a great option for all those fun times.

  1. In a food processor pulse mushrooms or chop by hand.
  2.  Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a sauté’ in frying pan over medium heat. Cook onion until soft. Add garlic and tamari. Cook 1 more minute.
  3. Add mushrooms. Cook until mushrooms release their moisture and are almost dry. Add parsley, oregano, and black pepper. Add lentils and stir well.
  4. Put lentil mixture into food processor, and pulse mixture to grind. and 7 times.
  5. In large bowl, combine mushroom-lentil mixture with beaten egg, quinoa breadcrumbs, Parmesan, and mustard. Moisture level of mixture may vary with the type of breadcrumbs used. It should be very moist, but not be wet. If it feels wet, add bread
  6. crumbs 1 tablespoon at a time.
  7. Divide into 5 portions, about a generous 1/2 cup each. Roll each portion into a ball, then flatten to form a patty. Place on patties on flat plate cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes or overnight.
  8. Heat remaining tablespoon of olive oil in a large pan. Add patties cook 5-6 minutes per side.

Now that your patties are done, add patty to your whole grain bun. Add your toppings and enjoy!