Espresso Epiphany

Chile Con Queso

2010-09-06T19:13:03Z

It's Labor Day and, in the spirit of celebrating all those who labor, I thought I would treat myself to something junky. And cheesy. That you can eat with tortilla chips. Actually, it has nothing to do with Labor Day or the end of summer vacation or the fact that the neighborhood will be blissfully quiet again tomorrow when all the kids go back to school. I just had a hankerin' for this awesome and slightly curious chile con queso.

This was a family favorite when I was growing up. It made its debut in the 70s and always returned for an annual appearance on New Year's Eve. Maybe other times, too, but I remember it as a New Year's Eve thing.

Anyway, it's not too complicated and you can whip it up in under 30 minutes.

Ingredients:
1 medium onion finely chopped
2 Tablespoons butter
1 15 oz. can tomato sauce
1 can peeled green chiles, chopped
1 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese
8 oz. cheddar cheese, cubed or grated
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Wilt onion in butter; add tomato sauce, chiles, salt and pepper.
Simmer about 10 minutes.
Add cheeses and continue to simmer until all cheese is melted.
Stir thoroughly. (a metal whisk is helpful)

Serve with tortilla chips.

I've used spring onions and sometimes throw in some jalapenos if I want to spice it up.

Eat with caution if you have gallbladder problems. Just sayin'.

A Dream and a Hug

2010-09-01T13:40:47Z

For the second time since my mom died a year ago, I dreamed about her. The first time it happened, I dreamed she was dying in the hospital but, unlike the way it happened in real life, she was conscious and I was able to tell her how much I loved her and how she was the *best mother I could have ever wanted and how I *hoped I could be even half the mother she was. I told her how sorry I was for my arrogant and judgmental attitudes and remarks that wounded her here and there through the years, how sorry I was for my selfish ways that hindered our being together when we could have and how sad I was that circumstances beyond my control hindered our being together so many other times.

Last night, though, there were no words... she was just standing there and we hugged for a long time and I remember in my dream how good and soft she felt and how safe I felt.

Oh, God, I miss my mommy and her delicious hugs.

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*Fortunately, sometime in the year before my mother died we had a conversation in which I did tell her these two things. There was never a time in my entire life (and I remember being a very young child with this conscious thought) when I wasn't aware that God had blessed me with the best mother in the world. I will always regret that, when it mattered, I did not exhibit the humility to ask her forgiveness for specific ways in which I knew I had hurt her. I know she would tell me now that God's grace was sufficient for her then and His grace is sufficient for me now.

Suffering's Great Mystery

2010-04-27T00:57:35Z

"D.A. Carson said, 'In the darkest night of the soul, Christians have something to hold into that Job never knew. We know Christ crucified. Christians have learned that when there seems to be no other evidence of God's love they cannot escape the cross. He who did not spare his own son, but gave him up for us all, how shall he not also along with Him graciously give us all things? When we suffer there will sometimes be mystery. Will there also be faith? Yes. If our attention is focused more on the cross and on the God of the cross than on the suffering itself.'

Here's what I've found. Those who recognize that their suffering in this life is never as great or as serious as their sins, find joy in an unexpected place in the midst of suffering. Because the great mystery is not, "Why do I suffer?" The great mystery is, "Why would the sinless Son of God suffer as my subsitute on the cross for my sins, receiving the wrath that I deserve so that I might be forgiven and declared righteous?" That is the great mystery of mercy. And that mystery can and will make all the difference in the midst of the severest forms of suffering."
~ C.J. Mahaney

Overcoming

2010-01-05T21:03:43Z

"Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of overcoming it."

Helen Keller

Chocolate Chip Orange Muffins

2009-11-15T23:29:34Z

A favorite from my growing up years... my sisters and I loved these on Christmas morning... or any time!

Chocolate Chip Orange Muffins

1 egg
Â½ cup milk
Â¼ cup vegetable oil
1Â½ cups all-purpose flour
Â½ cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
Â½ teaspoon salt
Â¾ cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips (or MINI Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips)
1 to 1Â½ teaspoons freshly grated orange peel

Heat oven to 400Â°F. Grease (or insert paper cupcake liners into) 12 muffin cups (2Â½ inches in diameter) or 24 mini-muffin cups.

In medium bowl, beat egg; stir in milk and oil. Stir together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt; add all at once to egg mixture. Stir just until moistened (batter should be lumpy). Stir in chocolate chips and orange peel. Fill prepared muffin cups 2/3 full with batter. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from pans; serve warm.

Makes 12 muffins or 24 mini-muffins.

Resting in Christ's Righteousness

2009-09-02T04:02:01Z

The gospel encourages me to rest in my righteous standing with God, a standing which Christ Himself accomplished and always maintains for me.(a)(b) I never have to do a moment's labor to gain or maintain my justified status before God!(c)(d)(e) Freed from the burden of such a task, I now can put my energies into enjoying God, pursuing holiness, and ministering God's amazing grace to others.

The gospel also reminds me that my righteous standing with God always holds firm regardless of my performance, because my standing is based solely on the work of Jesus and not mine.(f) On my worst days of sin and failure, the gospel encourages me with God's unrelenting grace toward me.(g)(h) On my best days of victory and usefulness, the gospel keeps me relating to God solely on the basis of Jesus' righteousness and not mine.

From A Gospel Primer for Christians: Learning to See the Glories of God's Love

Happy Birthday, Mama!

2009-08-15T00:01:27Z

Today is the first time we will celebrate my mother's birthday without her. Her life on earth came to an end last month. Since then, I've been trying to comfort and care for my mother's brokenhearted mother, my Nana. We are celebrating mom's 68th birthday with Nana at her house today. I couldn't bear the thought of her being alone and I find great comfort in being with Nana, myself. I wish I could take all of Nana's pain away. Losing her daughter, surviving both of her children, has been so overwhelming to her body and to her heart - it is heart wrenching to see her walk through this difficult trial. It literally sucks the breath out of me at times.

In our sorrow, though, we want to remember the joy of life with my mom. So we celebrate. Nana requested fried chicken for lunch and we're picking up a little cake or cupcakes for dessert. Ashe and the girls are coming out for the day and Brenda is dropping by, too. I'm looking forward to everyone getting together and I know our little party bring Nana much cheer.

Lebanese Chicken with Couscous

2009-06-07T19:04:55Z

I made this delicious and easy chicken dish for dinner last night. I thought it had a perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors... mmmm! The leftovers served up very nicely for lunch today, too, with Naan.

I would have taken a picture for you, but it smelled so amazing and we were just too hungry to get the camera out. Oh well, next time.

Ingredients:
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (halves, about 1-1/2 pounds)
1 small onion (1/3 cup), chopped (I used a vidalia onion)
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoon butter or EV olive oil (or blend of both)
1 tablespoon finely shredded orange peel
1/2 cup orange juice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
2 tablespoons honey (I didn't measure, just drizzled away)
1 cup quick-cooking couscous
Optional garnishes: orange wedges, mint leaves

Directions:

In a large skillet cook chicken, onion, and garlic in hot butter/olive oil over medium heat about 6 minutes or until chicken is brown, turning once. Add orange peel, orange juice, and salt to skillet. Bring to boil; reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 5 minutes. Sprinkle cinnamon and allspice onto chicken; drizzle with honey. Simmer, uncovered, for 5 to 7 minutes more or until chicken is tender and no longer pink.

While chicken is simmering, cook couscous according to package directions. Serve with chicken, onions and sauce. If desired, garnish with orange wedges and mint. Makes 4 servings.

Try one or more of these variations for... well... a little variety!
In the last minute of simmering, gently stir in 1/2 cup or so of plain yogurt (go Activia!)
Add finely cut julienne carrots to onions and garlic.
Add a 1/4 cup golden raisins to onions and garlic.
Serve with Naan or jasmine rice instead of couscous.

What else sounds good with this? Please leave a comment!

My Unmoving Mansion of Rest

2009-02-27T11:35:12Z

The Christian knows no change with regard to God. He may be rich to-day and poor to-morrow; he may be sickly to-day and well to-morrow; he may be in happiness to-day, to-morrow he may be distressed--but there is no change with regard to his relationship to God. If He loved me yesterday, He loves me to-day. My unmoving mansion of rest is my blessed Lord. Let prospects be blighted; let hopes be blasted; let joy be withered; let mildews destroy everything; I have lost nothing of what I have in God. He is "my strong habitation whereunto I can continually resort." I am a pilgrim in the world, but at home in my God. In the earth I wander, but in God I dwell in a quiet habitation.

C.H. Spurgeon
Morning and Evening Devotions (February 27, Morning excerpt)

The One With Mac and C.H.E.E.S.E.

2009-01-24T03:08:50Z

This recipe is for Jordan. :-)

Classic Macaroni and Cheese

1 pound Elbow Macaroni
1 pound Sharp Cheddar Cheese, shredded or cubed
4 TBSP Butter
4 TBSP Flour
3 cups Milk
Salt, Pepper, Breadcrumbs, Whatever (Optional)

Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Cook macaroni according to package directions. (Don't overcook!)
Drain and put macaroni into buttered (or sprayed with Pam) baking dish.
Melt butter in saucepan over medium heat.
Slowly blend flour into melted butter until smooth and bubbling.
Add milk slowly and blend well, cooking and stirring until it thickens.
Add salt and pepper to taste.
Melt cheese into white sauce.
Pour cheese sauce over macaroni.
Sprinkle bread crumbs over top of macaroni and cheese, if desired.
Place in center of oven for 30 minutes.
Let cool for 5 or 10 minutes, then serve.

And remember... Joey doesn't share food!!!!!!!

Embrace

2009-01-06T17:39:00Z

My "one little word" for 2009 is "embrace". When I decided to choose a word for the year, this was the very first word that came to my mind . Considering several others, I kept coming back to it. "Embrace" is this next leg of my present journey. Embrace is hopeful. Embrace makes lemonade. Embrace trusts God. Embrace allows suffering to work for her good. Embrace grows in faith.

Happy Epiphany!

Sweet Charlotte

2008-11-05T18:40:05Z

A sweet gift from heaven arrived into the arms of a new mommy and daddy today. After nine long months of waiting, Spencer and John finally had the great joy of meeting their new baby daughter, Charlotte Abigail, face to face. She is healthy, pink and angelic and we are all so relieved that she is "here". Spence was a courageous, patient and gracious laborer, which is saying a lot because she endured much difficulty over many hours of labor. God is good and we are all humbled and grateful. Welcome to your family, my sweet little granddaughter. I look forward to knowing you, holding you, teasing you, reading to you, playing with you, sharing Jesus with you and praying for you.

My cup runneth over.

Movable Type 4.2 Rocks!

2008-08-17T04:36:20Z

Six Apart have outdone themselves with their latest Movable Type releases. Movable Type 4.2 and Movable Type Pro 4.2 are rockin'! MT4.2 is open source and suggested for dev types. I fully expected to use MT 4.2 until 6A surprised us all with the release of MTPro 4.2 free to bloggers (as opposed to license fees for commercial bloggers). MTPro 4.2 is built on the open source version and includes the Pro Pack and Community Pack which, in 4.0.x-1x were only available as paid packages intended for commercial customers. More later...

Get Your Twitter On

2008-08-01T18:25:57Z

I was happily surprised to find out tonight that this design won the NAPP News / Layers Magazine "Get Your Twitter On" contest for a Twitter profile page design/redesign. Out of 40+ entries, mine was chosen for the first place prize. Funny thing is, at the last minute I almost didn't submit my entry because I was never quite pleased with it (for one, I never got the rays radiating from the right point). And, seriously, my face was turning red as I hit the submit button, knowing the NAPP guys would actually look at it. But I went ahead and submitted anyway and learned the good news tonight. Honestly, I'm sure it was not so much the design or technique as it was simply the idea of the beloved fail whale swimming in my espresso that appealed to the judges. ;-)

And, drumroll please... my prizes are... a copy of Scott Kelby's Photoshop CS3 for Digital Photographers training DVD and a copy of Layers: The Complete Guide to Photoshop's Most Powerful Feature by Matt Kloskowski. How cool is that?! :-)

[crossposted on Flickr]

Favorite Summer Squash Casserole

2008-07-25T22:01:45Z

One of my daughters was asking for this recipe so she can make it for her husband. The recipe hails from the August 1974 issue of Better Homes and Gardens Magazine. It is retro-fully delicious and a great way to use some of that wonderful yellow squash that can be found at such a good price during the summer season.

Ingredients:
2 pounds yellow summer squash, sliced (6 cups)
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 can condensed cream of chicken soup
1 cup dairy sour cream
1 cup shredded carrot
1 8-ounce package herb-seasoned stuffing mix
1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted.

Directions:
In saucepan, cook sliced squash and chopped onion in boiling salted water
for 5 minutes. Drain.
Combine soup and sour cream.
Stir in shredded carrot.
Fold in drained squash and onion.
Combine stuffing mix and butter or margarine. Spread half of stuffing
mixture in bottom of 12 x 7 1/2 x 2-inch baking dish.
Spoon vegetable mixture atop.
Sprinkle remaining stuffing over vegetables.
Bake in 350 degree oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until heated through.
Serves six.