New Inspiration and Resolutions

I've had new inspiration to begin to blog again. I am a naturalist and a part-time foodie. Recently my husband and I watched the movie, Julie and Julia--instant inspiration! Julie in the movie is a writer who's written half of a novel--Oh, can I relate to that, I've written several halves of novels--she's also a foodie, someone who's interested in gourmet food and cooking. She begins blogging about cooking all the recipes in Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking. I'm tempted to take up the same challenge, but I'd rather continue cooking healthy, natural food, which is also tasty (not to say that Child's book doesn't include natural recipes, because French cooking uses natural ingredients) and blog about food, nature and the One who made them both.

My goal is to blog at least once a week, more if possible.

Speaking of goals, everyone in my office is on a diet. It being January 6th, I guess it's expected. I too would like to loose a few pounds, but how is the all consuming question.

I've heard that health clubs get hundreds of people joining beginning in January. They come faithfully and the gym is full for weeks until about March by which time the majority have lost interest. I'm sure the health clubs don't mind at all, they still get the year-long membership fees.

And what about diets? The number diets out there is mind-boggling.

Here's my suggestion for a natural, healthy plan to lose weight: Cut out white flour and sugar. Of course there will be some exceptions and special days, but it is possible on a regular day. Now, if you already eat this way, you'll have to get more strict, or just exercise more, but if you don't, this is a great way to lose weight without counting calories or following a strict, complicated diet plan.

Don't forget to exercise regularly. Exercise burns calories--allowing you to eat more ;-) -- and it increases energy. But if you join the gym keep it up throughout the year if only to get your money's worth or else your resolution for 2011 will be a better financial plan.

In this new year I pray you enjoy food, enjoy good health and enjoy the Creator who delights in you and made these for you to enjoy!

View Julie Powell's current blog.

Here's a delicious recipe without flour or sugar:

Polenta w/Veggies and Mushroom Ragout
Lund's & Byerly's Real Food Winter 2008, page 56
1 C Instant Polenta or Cornmeal
2 C Milk
1 C Water
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 C Parmesan cheese, shredded

Ragout:
8 ounces White Mushrooms, quartered
1 Red Bell Pepper, sliced into strips
1/2 small Onion, sliced into strips
2 Tbspn Olive Oil
2 cloves Garlic
1 Tbspn Thyme, chopped
1 15-oz can Kidney Beans, drained
2 Tbspn Tomato Paste
1/2 C Creme Fraiche or Cream
1/2 tsp Salt

Prepare a pie pan by lightly rubbing it with olive oil. Ina 2-qt saucepan, bring themilk and water to a simmer. Whisk in polenta in steady stream and add salt. Reduce heat to med-low and stir the mixture until thick, about 3-5 minutes. Take off the heat and stir in Parmesan then transfer to the prepared pie pan and smooth the top. Chill. Prepare the veggies and reserve. Heat a large saute pan over med-high heat and add oil*; then add vegetables and cook, stirring. When mushrooms are browned and seared, and peppers and onions are tender, add garlic and thyme and stir for 2 minutes. Add beans and stir to heat through. In a cup, stir tomato paste with cream; then add to the pan and cook until thickened slightly. Take off heat and keep warm. Salt to taste. Preheat broiler. Oil a baking sheet and slice the polenta in 6 wedges. Lightly oil the toops of the wedges and broil them 6 inches from the heat. Watch them carefully and turn when the tops are golden and crisp. When the polenta is hot and crispy on the edges, serve with ragout.

*Taking the idea from Julie Powell, I browned the mushrooms in butter first, set them aside, then cooked the other veggies in the leftover butter with a little olive oil added. I then added the mushrooms back in when I stirred in the tomato/cream. And, Julie, if you're reading this, I didn't crowd the mushrooms. ;-)

Testing & Faith

Continuing thoughts on conflict, trials and faith . . .

“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.”
James 1:2,3

Faith must be like a muscle that can be trained and strengthened. We can’t lift weights or do push-ups for this muscle, however. It’s the trials we face in life that train our faith.

I often think of faith as similar to bravery. Just because someone is brave doesn’t mean they have no fear, it simply means they don’t allow the fear to interfere with their action. So with faith, having faith doesn’t mean we have no doubt, only that we don’t allow the doubt to dictate our action. We act based on the truth of God’s word.

Hebrews 11 has been called the Faith Hall of Fame. When we read the stories of the likes of Abraham who left his home, not knowing where he was going, but followed God’s lead, I’m sure he, and the others, had doubts but all we read is what they did. They followed and obeyed. We know Moses had doubts, he told God a number of times that he wasn’t up to the job. In the end though, Moses obeyed God. There were many trials along the way, but Moses’ faith increased with each one, he became a strong man of God as he watched God come through in the midst of trials time after time.

I’m beginning to see God’s wisdom in allowing trails. I’m finally starting to understand why trials and evil people are important to include in fiction. My heroes need to stretch and grow as characters, they need to discover the strength within themselves and to do that, they must be tested.

Thank you, Lord, that you don’t test us the way writers test their characters in a book. And help me to devise some evil plans against my fictional heroes. Amen.

_______________________

Mint Tea

When the stress of various trials starts to get to you, try some Green Tea with Mint. Mint settles the stomach and its aroma clears the mind.

For hot tea, simply pour near-boiling water over green tea leaves and a handful of fresh mint leaves. For iced tea, place several green tea bags and a handful of fresh mint leaves in a clear pitcher and set it out in full sun for about three hours. When the tea has brewed, remove the tea bags and mint and place the pitcher in the refrigerator.

Conflict & Change

I'm studying characterization today. How to write believable characters for a novel. I've been struggling with my protagonist. He's just too good. He's too nice and has no deeply rooted conflict or motivation. Isn't it interesting that the things we want to avoid in our own lives are the things we love to read about in novels? They are also the things which bring the most change whether in our own lives or the lives of our beloved characters.

My favorite books and movies are the ones in which the characters change the most. They start off weak, or handicapped in some way and discover their strengths through the conflicts they face.

So why do we avoid conflict like the plague? And why do we accuse God of not hearing our prayers when he allows conflict into our lives? "Is God evil?" Many may ask. But He has revealed Himself to us as a God of love.

Like a parent's love, God loves us enough to allow circumstances to teach us. A recent example happened in our family this week. Our son needed to get up for work. We've been encouraging him to set the alarm early enough to allow himself a little more time in the morning. "Get up the first time it goes off," I always say. Since school has been out, he's had to work a couple times in the morning, but not until 11am. He figured he'd just wake up on his own by that time, so he didn't set an alarm. My husband and I were both at work when he needed to get up. He slept right through and was 1 1/2 hours late for work! He sure learned his lesson that day. Luckily he didn't lose his job, he just got a little embarrassed. Now he's begun to set the alarm and get up when it goes off. Experience is so often the best teacher.

An example from nature. I picked a mixing bowl full of strawberries this afternoon. This year has been the best yield I've ever had from my small, urban, backyard strawberry patch, each day a handful or small bowl. Pondering the possible reasons, I've considered that it could be because we had such a long, cold winter. Spring took her time arriving in Minneapolis this year. A few trees didn't make it and still I see some that are half brown and half green. But the strawberries have spread and each plant is full of baby white berries, soon to be bright with color and flavor. Could it be that these delicate, nutritious berries thrive when challenged by the elements?

I’m not sure, but I know people do. Paul says to consider it all joy when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4.

Now back to torture my characters a little more.


4th of July Strawberry Treat:
Place fresh Strawberries and fresh Blueberries on top of a small bowl of real whipped cream.
It's delicious and patriotic!