A Great Read for 2011

Just finished reading "Pearl in the Sand" by Tessa Afshar. Wow, a really captivating book. It is the fictionalized story of Rahab who saved the Israelite spies in Jericho. Each page had me dwelling on some aspect of our relationship with God and others. I loved how the author portrays Rahab being drawn to the true and living God before she even understood anything about Him. God does draw us to Himself when we allow Him to speak to us. Each step of obedience to Him draws us deeper and deeper into the plan He has for us. I am convinced more each day, that all God requires of us is to choose His way over the way I would naturally want to react to events and people. Eventually, His way becomes the natural way to live. And what Peace and Joy follow.

Julia Child I'm Not

My favorite movie last year was "Julie and Julia", a wonderful film with food, writing and Meryl Streep. All things I thoroughly enjoy! I am not (nor ever will be) a gourmet cook, but tonight I tried a yummy recipe from Taste of Home magazine. I love this magazine because they have "real people" recipes. This one was called "Chicken Crescent Wreath". I actually had fun chopping up the red pepper, broccoli, onion, and water chestnuts into little pieces. And who doesn't love popping open Pillsbury dough in the tubes. When all the ingredients were mixed together it made such a lovely conglomeration of colors that it was like a holiday wreath. Final step--folding over the little triangles of dough over the mixture. What do you think? Look good enough to eat?






I'm happy to report, it was scrumptious! We enjoyed this meal along with Grandpa and Grandma visiting from Connecticut. Perfect meal for a perfect evening with family. For tonight I actually felt like I was a cook extraordinaire.


Here's the recipe for those who want to try it:
CHICKEN CRESCENT WREATH
2 tubes (8 ounces each)refrigerated crescent rolls
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Co-Jack cheese
2/3 cup condensed cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup chopped fresh broccoli
1/2 cup chopped sweet red pepper
1/4 cup chopped water chestnuts
1 can (5 ounces) white chicken,drained or 3/4 cup cubed cooked chicken
2 tablespoons chopped onion

Arrange crescent rolls on a 12-in. pizza pan, forming a ring
with pointed ends facing the outer edge of pan and wide ends overlapping.
Combine the remaining ingredients; spoon over wide ends of rolls.
Fold points over filling and tuck under wide ends (filling will be visible).
Bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Yield: 6-8 servings.

A Wish for 2011

I don't make New Year's Resolutions because they are always broken within a few weeks. My "plan" for this year is to blog a bit more than I did. For one, it really is a way of looking back and seeing how God has revealed himself to me and also what the real me was experiencing in this life on any given day. Having a mom who is losing all touch with reality and memory has made me value those life experiences even more. Like sipping tea with my very best friend that I don't get to see very often and talking about everything and anything. Like watching our 2 youngest sliding recklessly down a hill on toboggans. Like sitting in the silence of my living room in the predawn light reading how great God's faithfulness to His people is. Simple events but I want to remember them. And be grateful for it all.