Another Interesting Thanksgiving

It seems that the "bugs" have us on their calendar for Thanksgiving.

Hubby came home sick on Wednesday night

and spent Thanksgiving Day and the next 2 days sick with fever.

We are glad for the days that allowed him to rest.

We are thankful that it wasn't as fierce as other times.

We are thankful for the prayers of friends who were concerned about us.

We are thankful that our less processed diet seemed to lessen the severity.

We are thankful that so far I have come through unscathed.

As the temps drop,

I am looking for more ways to stay clear of smoothies and salads.

Hubby has been enjoying lots of "Clean the Fridge" Soups.

Here is a good option for breakfast with low sugar.

Low Sugar Baked Oatmeal

1 banana sliced

2 cups oats

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1 egg

1 mashed banana

1 1/2 c milk

1 tsp vanilla

2 TBSP brown sugar

Mix oats, baking powder, and salt.

Mix egg, mashed banana, milk, and vanilla.

Mix wet and dry.

Put mix in greased 8x8 pan.  Layer sliced banana on bottom, in middle, or on top.

Bake 26 minutes at 375*.

Top with Brown Sugar and Broil for 4 more minutes.

I enjoyed it warm, but it was also good cold ;)

Thanksgiving Scale

do -

Domain - a beautiful place to call home

re -

Redeemer - Jesus' work on the cross to offer salvation to all

rememberance - of God's goodness each year and through difficulties

recipes - new meals since May that have solved many health problems

mi -

missionaries - sharing the good news near and far

miles -  traveled in safety

mistakes - that God forgives and that enable me to grow

fa -

Father - a heavenly Father 

family - those near and far

sol -

solitude - slowly learning to appreciate the quiet

la -

laughter - to lighten the heavy days

labor - how things are accomplished, all of the improvements at church

ti -

time - it is a gift, not a right

do -

doting hubby - I am glad that I don't have to wonder if he loves me - 

he tells me and everyone else

Ramp it Up!

It is the busy day before the holiday.

I decided to repaint the exterior of the house this week - Smart thinking?

So I will finish the back of the trailer today.

Need to make a pumpkin pie,

Cranberry Waldorf Salad,

and prep the Turkey for the oven tomorrow.

Looking forward to spending tomorrow afternoon with some of our church family - 

at least those without family in the area.

A Little Reminder

Psalm 100:4
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving,
and into his courts with praise:
be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

Who Needs Starbucks?

It is cooling down in the Carolinas.

Cold mornings and sunny afternoons.

The breakfast smoothies are changing to warm breakfasts.

The cold mornings call for a special drink.

Something warm and satisfying.

I found this one on the Teeccino site.

Teeccino is an herbal coffee alternative.

Pumpkin Spice Latte

2 1/2 c brewed teecino
3 TBSP Pumpkin Puree
1 TBSP Maple Syrup
1/3 c milk

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/8 tsp nutmeg

1/8 tsp ginger

I throw all of the ingredients in the blender and VOILA!

It really is as good or better than Starbucks - and better for the budget.

Going to try a Ginger Peach Hot Drink over the Thanksgiving Holiday.

Sorry for the Break

I do apologize for the lapse in posts.

I was working on 2 bathrooms at the church.

We finished one bathroom and planned for a break, 

but ...

imminent guests hurried us right into the second project.

The rest of the fellowship hall is up next,

but hopefully we have a little time before that has to be done.
The "fun" of the project is painting brick walls - so many crevices :)

With all the work at church, 

the rest of my time was spent trying to stay afloat on the work at home.

Early this week took us to Raleigh again for hubby's training.

Always nice to see something different.

Now it is time to focus on exterior house painting and Thanksgiving - 

looks like a small gathering at the church this year.

Singing the Scriptures

Hubby is now preaching the book of Isaiah.
This means that he wrapped up Philippians,
 and we are working on another physical book of the lessons that he just preached.
In connection with the new series,
hubby wanted to help the congregation to learn a "Hymn" in Isaiah.
While we were travelling in October, we put Isaiah 12 to the tune,
"Look Ye Saints, the Sight is Glorious."
It was a fun endeavor and I love being able to learn Scripture so easily
as well as having the beneficial words going through my mind.

Isaiah 12

And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise thee:
though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away,
and thou comfortedst me.

 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid:
for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.

 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.

 And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name,
declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.

 Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth.

 Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion:
for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.

Jewish Celebration

Hubby and I were both teaching the story of Esther for the past 4 weeks.  We finished the story on Sunday and it coincided with a Fellowship Dinner.  The kindergarten teacher within me raised its head and I had to see if I could make a delicious Purim Cookie (known as Hamantaschen).  Hubby was thrilled with the idea (and the results).  It was a little labor intensive (but not too bad) and the dough would make a very good sugar cookie without the filling.

Gluten Free Hamantashen

Ingredients

• 11 oz Prunes (dried plums), pitted and chopped
• 1 cup Raisins
• 3/4 cup Water
• 1/3 cup Lemon Juice
• 2 cup Blanched Almond Flour
• 1 cup Arrowroot Flour, plus 1/2 cup for dusting
• 1 tsp Salt
• 1 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
• 1/2 cup Pure Maple Syrup, + 1 Tbsp to add to the filling
• 1/4 cup Organic Coconut Oil, melted

Process

1. In a medium sized sauce pan, add the prunes, raisins, water, lemon juice, and maple syrup. Heat over medium heat.
2. Bring filling to a boil, while stirring. Continue to stir frequently, while "mashing" the filling with a wooded spoon.
3. Once the liquid has reduced, and you have a thick filling of plump prunes and raisins, remove from heat and set aside for filling the cookies.
4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
5. In a large mixing bowl, stir together the almond flour, arrowroot, and salt.
6. Add in the vanilla extract, maple syrup, and melted coconut oil. Stir until all ingredients are combined and you have a ball of cookie dough. **You can use your hands for this as well.
7. Place ball of dough on to a sheet of parchment paper, adding additional arrowroot flour and kneading the dough until it is firm enough to be rolled and cut into shapes.
8. Place another sheet of parchment paper over the dough, and roll into a 1/4 inch thick layer.
9. Dust dough with additional arrowroot, as well as dip the cookie cutter in arrowroot flour, so the dough does not stick.
10. Carefully cut circles in the dough, and remove the excess dough from around the circles.
11. Add about a teaspoon (give or take) of filling to the center of the cookies, and carefully fold three sides in, making a triangular shape. Pinch the corners in to seal the cookies.
12. Transfer the parchment to a baking sheet, and bake cookies for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and place on a cooling rack.
13. Repeat this process using a fresh sheet of parchment, for the remainder of the dough, until you have used all of the cookie dough.
14. Any remaining filling can be frozen and saved for future use.