It's Not Beans and Rice

There are a lot of different recipes in our home.

We try to make every meal and snack COUNT,

but we also don't like to be deprived which leads to bingeing.

Two weeks ago, I posted hubby's go-to morning snack ...
Black Bean Brownies.

He had eaten it everyday for about 5 months.

I would ask if he wanted a change,

but "no," they were just that good.

Last week,

he decided a change might be nice.

So I went to work looking for a new recipe,

high in protein and fiber and lower in sugar.

We first did the black bean gingerbread bars,

they're good, but not as good when we cut the sugar back for a snack instead of dessert.

The second attempt was Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars,

and, well, we are on the second pan alread.

All of these recipes do require a strong blender or food processor to get the beans blended well,

but with that blender they are easy-peezy.
Not only that, but no egg, so ... you can lick the batter 😄

Chickpea Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

INGREDIENTS

1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, rinsed and drained

1/2 cup all natural almond butter or peanut butter

1/3 cup pure maple syrup

2 teaspoons vanilla

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/3 cup chocolate chips 

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 350.
Spray 8x8 inch pan with nonstick cooking spray.

In a food processor or high speed blender, add all ingredients except chocolate chips
and process until batter is smooth.
Fold in 1/3 cup of chocolate chips, I like to use dark chocolate because it has less sugar but it's up to you. Spread batter evenly in prepared pan
.Bake for 20-25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean and edges are a tiny bit brown.
The batter may look underdone, but you don't want them to dry out!

Cool pan for 20 minutes on wire rack. 

Just a little tug ...

It has been a busy week.

I am so thankful for the little bit of help that was given.

With the currently 11 trips to the dump,

I had help on 8 out of 11.

I lined the bed of the truck with a tarp.

I filled the bed with branches.

I backed up to the large refuse container.

3 times I had to empty the truck 1/2 way by hand until I could physically pull the tarp out of the bed.

8 times - someone came and helped me pull the tarp for a 1 minute empty of the bed.

I am thankful for the dump workers and the one everyday citizen who just gave that little tug on the opposite side of the truck.

Sometimes we want to do the great things ...
to make the BIG difference in someone's life ...
but sometimes, the BIG thing is just the little tug.

And the tree trimming ...

is going well.

Sunday Afternoon

Tuesday afternoon after 7 trips to the dump

Wednesday night after 4 more trips to the dump and about an hour of chainsaw work.

And this is what will be tended to on Saturday.

Another full day of sawing and toting!

If you look to the left of the trailer behind our tree.

You can see that they lost a big tree as well,

It only missed the trailer by inches.

This tree is on our agenda as well.

Fidelity

I am currently reading through Hosea in my daily Bible reading.

Hosea - a picture of God's faithfulness with an unfaithful people.

Fidelity to God.

It is so easy, like Israel, to be drawn in by the world,

to be distracted by "shiny objects,"

to place God on the back burner.

He deserves first place!
Often Israel thought they were doing right,
they thought they were pleasing God.
They may have been following the letter of the law,
but they often missed the heart of the law.

Fidelity in marriage (or friendship) is a big deal as well.

How do you show faithfuless and loyalty?

Do you place a priority on your time with you spouse?

Is he/she the most important person in your life?

Do you turn to your spouse first (after God) in difficult situations?

No friendship should be above your spouse.

Do you make decisions with your spouse?

Do you value and desire their opinion?

Do you stand up for and respect your spouse in private and in public?

No "old bag" or "old man" jokes.  No divulging private matters that should stay private.

It is easy to fall into a "worldly" mindset - 

one that cuts down the partner in marriage,

one that focuses on independence rather than togetherness.
God values fidelity and has given us His perfect example.
STRIVE - STRIVE - STRIVE

The Reminder ... Again

Thankful Thursday: The Monday Edition

Often, we are reminded to be thankful.

We are reminded that God is powerful.

We are reminded that our safety is in God's hands.

We had that experience yesterday - 

a little residue from hurricane Nate.

We sat eating some dinner before church

and we watched the wind kicking up.

Soon the chair cover from the front porch was in the back yard.

In two minutes it was over.

It was a mini tornado.

It wiped out one of our Bradford pear trees - 

the one that we had not yet pruned back.

We are thankful that it blew into the yard and not the house.

We are thankful that the trailer is still standing WITH a roof.

We are thankful for God's grace today and every day.

And this week - 

I am thankful for the strength to work on removing this monstrosity from the yard - 

one Ranger truckload at a time.

An Example to Follow

In my Sunday School class of one,

we recently began trying to be more specific and intentional in our daily Bible reading.

One popular method (I was introduced to it by some of my nieces and nephews)

is the SPECK method.

My student and I look for:

Sins to Avoid

Promises to Claim

Examples to Follow

Commands to Keep

Knowledge of God

I have been reading through the Major Prophets.

It has been a great comfort to me this time through.

As sin swirls around in the world,

as I (in sin) want to "fix" things on my own,

as I get frustrated with events beyond my control ...

God has been reminding me to leave things to Him.

I have seen the prophets as the example to follow.

They gave God's Word - often with no response from the listener - 

and they then had to leave the rest with God.

They were asked to do hard things - 

endure hunger, imprisonment in the worst of situations,
running for their life, walking naked as an example ...

They did the hard things because they were asked by God.

How often I complain when asked to do the smallest things for Him.

I have gained knowledge learned to appreciate the judgment, righteousness, and holiness of God.

It seemed like the wicked prevailed, but God's judgment did come - in His time.

And there was always the reminder - I, God, am judging so that all men will know that I am God.

Have you read something that has been an encouragement to you?

Would you share it?

Go-To Verse

While it is not a Psalm or a Song on this Tuesday,

it is a go-to verse of encouragement.

I guess you could call it a Tuesday Transformation,

because it sure does change my outlook when I focus on it.

It is a reminder of God's power.

It is a reminder that we serve a God of miracles.

Look around you.

Only an all-powerful God could create such a heaven and earth.

Our New Favorite Sandwich

A relatively "whole foods" diet without a doubt takes quite a bit of work.

I am always looking for a quick meal when time is just not there.

While looking through a home magazine one night,

we found a veggie sandwich that hubby wanted to try.

We "tweaked" the recipe and it has become a favorite.

The sandwich is simple.

Two slices of bread, toasted.

Two triangles of Laughing Cow Cheese any flavor.

(This is just a soft, spreadable cheese in preportioned packages.

Any creamy veggie spread would do.)

Sauteed or grilled red onions and peppers.

That's it!

Easy Peasy! and a new favorite.

As Promised

I mentioned hubby's daily work snack last week.

It is a different black bean brownie recipe.

I make at least one 8 x 8 pan a week cut into 9 pieces.

Two pieces go to work each day to be devoured mid morning.

They are a good source of proteint (beans and eggs)

and use honey as a sweetener (a win in our book).

For me they are are a win because they mix up in the VITAMIX

and quickly dump in the pan.

Here's the recipe from our friend Dr. Axe (He specializes in fixing "gut" issues.)

Black Bean Brownies

1 can 15 ounce black beans, drained

½ cup cacao powder

4 tablespoon coconut oil, melted

¾ cup raw honey

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 eggs

½ cup gluten-free flour (you can use regular all purpose as well)

¼ teaspoon sea salt

¼ cup water

DIRECTIONS:

Blend all ingredients together.
(I add the ingredients from bottom to top for ease of blending)

Grease 8 x 8 pan.

Bake for 40 min. at 350 degrees.

Today, we are feeling minor effects of Tropical Storm Irma.

A lot of rain and occasional wind gusts.

I have seen a few broken branches so far ...

Weather in the 60's today,

so I made a warm pot of chili and some corn bread muffins for dinner ...

 will also be good in hubby's lunch tomorrow.

A Little Celebration

It is Labor Day.

Are you celebrating the ability to work?

Work was never meant to be a curse.

Work is one of God's means of providing for us.

Today we are thankful for jobs that God has provided to meet our needs.

I have been a book shelver, a nanny, a cashier, a phone operator, a teacher ...

Hubby has worked fast food, at a hardware store, as a nuclear mechanic,

as a farm hand, as a stocker, as a tractor mechanic ...

God has always met our needs.

Today hubby has the day off.

While we enjoyed celebrating our anniversary last month with family,

we are enjoying celebrating again today.

We enjoyed some extra rest this morning,

enjoyed a four mile walk/run,

exercised for another hour at home,

grilled lunch outside,

studied our Bibles for over an hour in our sweet little front yard,

are looking forward to French Dip Sandwiches and Watermelon for supper,

Breyers almond milk peanut butter ice cream for a treat,

and a four mile walk to finish with a bang.

Just the perfect day together celebrating 15 years and looking forward to another 15+ as the Lord allows.

Last week for our baked good breakfast on Friday and Saturday,

I made some Morning Glory muffins.

I made them with a little fear and trepidation ...

they are one of my favorites,

but the last time I made them,

hubby was not impressed.

I had not been shopping and the recipe just suited what I had on hand.

This time, hubby raved ...

not only are we to keep the recipe,

but it might also become a lunch box snack

(it takes a lot to overthrow the favored black bean brownie).
 ** I was going to create a link to the latest black bean brownie recipe,

but I guess I haven't posted it yet ... maybe next Monday. **

While there are many recipes out there,

this is the one that I am using right now.

Paleo Morning Glory Muffins

2 large eggs

8 T. pure maple syrup

¼ c. coconut oil

½ c. shredded carrots

8 oz. crushed pineapple, drained

2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 c. almond flour

¼ c. coconut flour

½ tsp. baking soda

½ tsp. kosher salt

2 tsp. cinnamon

¼ tsp. nutmeg

⅓ c. raisins

⅓ c. coconut

¾ c. chopped walnuts

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Whisk together the eggs, maple syrup, coconut oil, carrots, pineapple, coconut and vanilla in a small bowl until combined. Set aside.

Toss the flours, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, raisins and walnuts in a medium bowl.

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and mix until well combined. Do not overmix.

Scoop batter into 12 cupcake wells and place into preheated oven for about 20 minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out clean.

Allow muffins to cool in the pan for at least 5 minutes before removing.