Let your heart sing

"Instead let there be a flood of justice. An endless procession of righteous living. Instead let there be a flood of justice. Instead of a show."

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Last Lecture

Fancy Fruit Cups

I had some extra time in the kitchen this afternoon so I thought I would play around with a few of the miscellaneous ingredients we had to make a quick and simple dessert.

I

 First, I combined mandarin oranges and pomegranates in some pretty wine glasses.

Then I added peach jello, topped them with lemon rhine and put them in the refigerator to cool!

I am looking forward to the sweet treat when I get home from work tonight.. Hopefully they are as delicious as they look.

20 minute meals

Will be making this yummy meal some time this week! Will post pictures..

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• kosher salt and pepper
• Canola oil, for the grill
• 6 ears corn, shucked
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, cut into pieces
• 2 scallions, sliced

Directions

1. Place twenty 8-inch wooden skewers in water to soak. Heat grill to medium-high.
2. In a small bowl, combine the ketchup, honey, and Worcestershire sauce. Set aside.
3. Slice the chicken lengthwise into twenty ½-inch-thick strips. Thread each strip onto a wooden skewer. Season with ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper.
4. Lightly oil the grill. Cook the chicken, turning occasionally, until cooked through, 6 to 8 minutes, basting with the ketchup mixture during the last 2 minutes.
5. Meanwhile, grill the corn, turning occasionally, until slightly charred, 3 to 4 minutes.
6. Cut the kernels off the cobs, place in a medium bowl, and toss with the butter, scallions, and ¼ teaspoon salt and pepper. Serve with the chicken.

Real Simple Gardening Ideas

Original purpose: Spicing up signature dishes.
Aha! use: Pest prevention. Sprinkle on molehills to ward off unwanted yard visitors.
Reward: A poison-free way to say “Scram!”
—submitted by Carol Maxwell Weatherly

Original purpose: Doling out what’s for dinner.
Aha! use: A perfectly sized container gardening tool. The compact tablespoon head makes a better fit than a traditional trowel for digging holes within the confines of a pot.
Reward: A heaping helping of convenience.
—submitted by Karen Houston Howell 



Original purpose: Making your morning pick-me-up.
Aha! use: Altering the acidity of your soil. Collect used grounds to add to mulch for acid-loving plants like hydrangeas and roses.
Reward: Plants that are as perky as you are.
—submitted by Lori-Anne Charlton Poirier

Original purpose: Steeping tea.
Aha! use: Between-crack weed killer. Pour the piping-hot liquid onto the growths that peek through cement to wipe them out.
Reward: A zero-chemical way to keep pavement tidy.
—submitted by Maureen McFadden Hill

Original purpose: Bottling your fizzy favorite.
Aha! use: A plant-warmer. Fill empty bottles—milk jugs and big juice bottles work, too—with hot water and place them around tomato and pepper plants to create a toasty barrier during low temps.
Reward: Giving your veggies a fighting chance against frost.
—submitted by Lisa Marie London

Original purpose: Safeguarding your mitts from your extra-hot Venti Mocha.
Aha! use: Seed starter. Place the sleeves in a tray, fill with starter soil, seeds and water and voilà…you’re in business.
Reward: An idea that’ll grow on you.
—submitted by Rachel Stone Embery

Original purpose: Covering up last night’s nibbles.
Aha! use: Aphid eliminator. Ball up the tinfoil—shiny side out—and scatter the wads in the soil around plants. The surface will reflect bright sunlight, scaring off aphids.
Reward: An end to insect infestation.
—submitted by Angelina Fu

Original purpose: A strainer for your morning jolt of java.
Aha! use: Planter liner. Place the filter at the base of a planter to keep soil from washing out and clogging drainage holes.
Reward: A cuppa cleanliness.
—submitted by Patty Russell Street





For more ideas check out real simples' gardening section! http://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/new-uses-for-old-things/new-gardening-uses-for-old-things-00000000038484/page2.html

These thumbs are a little greener

For the past year I have desperately been wanting my own garden. I made it my goal to finish it by the end of this Christmas break but have putting it off weekend after weekend because of miscellaneous excuses. Today, however, we had our Sunday afternoon to ourselves and it was an absolutely beautiful outside so my family, Erick and I all got to work! After just a few hours it was complete!! I am so excited for this new little venture.

My mama

Ted getting in on the action!

Me and my white legs getting back to my farmer roots..

Dad and Erick working hard!!

Tada! It's finished!

And to top it all off, the day ended with a perfect sunset!

We ended up planting all sorts of things:

• Basil
• Oregano
• Rosemary
• Onions
• Green Onions
• Bell Peppers
• Jalepenos
• Cantaloupe
• Tomatoes
• Squash

I am hopeful that they will all be successful. I can't wait to watch them grow and munch on them soon. Now it's time to paint, primp and decorate my planter! I want to give it a vintage feel. If you have any ideas let me know! 

Espresso Chocolate Mousse

I have been wanting to make this chocolatey treat since I saw it made by Giada De Laurentiss on Food Network's show "Everyday Italian". This simple desert was so yummy and rich! The best part was it literally took five minutes to make! You just need to allow a few hours for it to chill and then it is ready to serve. The directions called for a  mascarpone orange zest cream topping but I had to substitute a more simple version due to my lack of ingredients. If you don't feel like making the cream topping just use cool whip! 

Mousse:

• 1/2 cup whole milk
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon instant espresso powder
• 1 cup bittersweet chocolate chips
• 3 large egg whites

Cream:

• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon powdered sugar

Directions

For the Mousse: In a small saucepan over medium heat stir together the milk with the sugar and the espresso powder until the milk is hot, but not boiling, and the sugar is dissolved. Place the chocolate chips in a blender.

*Pour the hot milk over the chips. Run the blender on high until combined, a few seconds. Add the egg whites and run the blenderon high until light, about 1 minute. Transfer the mousse to 4 small serving cups. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator until firm, about 3 hours.

For the cream, simply whisk all ingredients together for a few minutes until the cream develops a "fluffy" consistency. Do not whisk too long though because you will end up with sweet butter! :)

Once your mousse is chilled, remove from fridge, top with whipped cream, sprinkle with chocolate flakes and enjoy!

Sweet Potato Sensation

SWEET POTATOES 

I am not sure what has gotten into me, but in the last couple months I have become a sweet potato addict. In my home, they are now eaten on a regular basis. Over the past couple of months I have been experimenting with this veggie and have managed to incorporate it into every meal. They are so simple to make and packed with incredible flavor. Fry, bake, microwave or just eat them raw! I like to season them two different ways, (1) use salt and rosemary for a yummy appetizer/snack or (2) add butter and brown sugar for a delicious dessert! Sweet potato fries, baked potato with butter and brown sugar or pineapple whip cream (SO GOOD), latkes (pancakes), hashbrowns, casserole, and wedges are a few of the ways that I have incorporated them into my diet and I keep finding even more. 

This versatile veggie not only packs a powerful punch of flavor but is also in a league of it's one it terms of health. It is rich with fiber, vitamins and beta carotene claiming titles such as the #1 ranked vegetable and #1 "best food"! Who knew these tasty little suckers could do so much good for our bodies. Check out these links. I was amazed. 

http://www.cspinet.org/nah/10foods_bad.html

http://www.foodreference.com/html/sweet-pot-nutrition.html

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=64

Celebrating Life

Yesterday we celebrated the life of someone who is incredibly near to my heart, Marley Grace! It is almost hard to believe that a year has passed already. The night she was born is still so fresh in my mind...

Upon my arrival to the hospital, I walked into Amber’s room and was yelled at by the nurse who was breaking her water! That was awkward--haha! By the time I got there Amber had already gotten her epidural and the worst of her labor had passed. I remember we all watched Failure to Launch in between Amber's contractions while she ate otter pops in her hospital bed. It was so surreal. The entire time I watched in amazement of how calm she was and marveled at the power of an epidural.  I just kept thinking to myself "never let anyone talk you into natural labor! movies and popsicles... this is awesome." Only a few short hours later Marley made her debut.  Kellie came in to the waiting room where the entire Cote clan as well as Erick and I waited impatiently. She announced the baby’s birth with such enthusiasm! I have never seen her so excited in my life! She must have said “That was amazing” a thousand times! We all took turns meeting Marley and so the adventure of that precious baby’s life began.

I had no idea that day how much I would grow to love that little tiny 6 pound baby.My heart is so full when I think about my beautiful Goddaughter Marley Grace. Watching her grow and learn has been something that I cherish so much as well as watching her existence shape Amber and Bryan into such amazing parents. Already her life has been such an incredible journey and I am so excited to watch her grow into a beautiful young lady in the coming years. 

Happy Birthday Marley! Every day I love you more!

Jesus was in town today.

One of those moments that makes you wonder "What more explanation does a person need to believe in an all powerful creator?" 

Romans 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

Lifelong Resolution

Colossians 3

Living as Those Made Alive in Christ

 ¹ Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ² Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. ³ For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ, who is your^[a] life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
 ⁵ Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. ⁶ Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.^{[b] 7} You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. ⁸ But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. ⁹ Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices ¹⁰ and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. ¹¹ Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
 ¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³ Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴ And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
 ¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.