Tag Archives: bread

…nineteen days and counting

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I began this trail of tears (and gnashing of teeth) nineteen days ago…..and I swear I thought it had been four full weeks but sadly not yet three. Who knew this would be such an extreme challenge, cut out a few foods here and there, right? Boy oh boy was I wrong! This is real life, controlling the very urge that has been like a warm blankee on a cold night. Discipline is a job in itself.

Is it weird I feel weird about letting go of this ridiculous way of life. It is just a few food choices, not life and death…but it is death, death to a well practiced way of life. My word for this year is FREEDOM with a DISCIPLINE chaser……and the burn comes because one can not be achieved unless the other one is conquered. If my body is actually the Temple of the Holy Ghost? which is what scripture states…scripture for which I live my life by, good or bad…then yeah! I must take note of this fact and live free from what caused me to become corrupt. Not that I am a bad person, just cute for a fat girl…ya know!

Of course I am also a stress eater for which all this denial causes stress “since precious can’t have what precious desires” so say I, being the precious one, all I can think about is French Toast! What a weird thing to crave…I have gotten past so many other craves…..but a few of my husbands homemade french toast and a pile of bacon sure would be good right about now! Which brings me to another bummer of a realization …I “crave” the wrong things…….oh boy! I need to crave the who not the what. It is this war in my head, my mind must be about good not silliness like whats the next food choice. I give way too much credit to this thought pattern. I must be in control….or rather allow myself to realize I am not in control of anything but my own will. And this will of mine must line up with the freedom train!…Am I all aboard?

I have had so much support to “do the right thing” and I am encouraged by it…but nineteen days in…..this could take forever! Although I am weak in my flesh on this day…I will not stop…..I am worth it, my life is not over and if I am hanging around here for “X “ amount of years then I better get my behind in gear and get nineteen more days down the road.

Thanks Lord for the reminder, with your help and the hope of freedom in the future I will choose to discipline myself and forge ahead…….someday there will be french toast again, in small dispensations of course…..and PIE!

 

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White Don’t Bite….!

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It is with a heavy heart I must say so long to an old friend. It doesn’t come as a surprise…I have known for a long time it would happen. The signs have all been there, I have had the warning and many people, friends and family have attempted to help me understand. HECK even the presidents wife, Michelle Obama has warned me in conjunction to my doctor…if it s White Don’t Bite! These words hang heavyobama in the air….I know, I know!

breadGood bye warm bread…with butter, good bye hard rolls, good bye crusty French bread….good bye sliced Bunny brand white bread (tear), Goodbye biscuits, goodbye chicken and dumplings(for which I just learned how to make…more tears), goodbye pasta……mashed potatoes and oh my Lord…crackers! I have to say goodbye to all these beautiful perfect CARBOHYDRATES. I HAVE TO EAT PROPERLY…….I HAVE TO DO AT LEAST A BIT IF EXERCISE, FIFTEEN/THIRTY MINUTES A FEW TIMES A WEEK!pasta

Nothing like a trip to the doctor to see the tell tell signs of a life spent lazy and apparently trying to kill itself. Knowing about my high blood pressure should have been enough, but nope, I have just lived in my special world of it won’t happen to me. Now my heart rate is low and  I have to add a new pill and rethink my lifestyle.

As I sat waiting for my prescription the thoughts of having a stroke weighed on my shoulders, not that I want to die, I look forward to heaven…someday, not yet; I guess it’s the thought of being stuck in bed at the mercy of everyone else, wouldn’t I feel stupid knowing I could have prevented it. What an idiot I would know I was and probably the most selfish action of my life.peppermint patty

As I write this, I am not one bit hungry…I made a carb free supper and ate plenty… but I need a peppermint patty……..ugh! Lord help me! I will do it and I will become healthy and stop being ashamed of myself! I have plenty of examples of overcoming overcomers and I will do it too!

I believe…help my unbelief!

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Pumpkin Squares and why I love fall…again!

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Example A.

This is one of the best fall foods ever been created. I usually only make this desert once or twice a year and only in the fall and I can’t seem to understand why. Maybe because as a rule I am not a baker. I cook all the time, breakfast…supper….food to survive on. But, the fall brings out the cook in me…the YUMMY FOOD cook.

Desserts are not my forte’ either. I would rather waste all my caloric intake on bread, hot, cold, plain, crusty, french, white…any bread. I adore breads. I do not bake bread; I did at one time during my little house on the prairie days while raising 3 kids, the little stair steps. We were a poor preacher family with one car (ouch!) so needless to say, I was at home all the time. Soon I realized that the guilt from the bread starter was too much for me to endure. Always had to feed the darn thing and I had younguns’ and it was all I could do to feed them.

My revelation of this yummy fall dessert was from the days when my little girl was born, twenty-six years ago and a family friend brought me a get well treat. I was a bit weary since I am not a fan of pumpkin pie but the cream cheese icing pulled me in. Boy o’ boy I am glad I did. Yummy for sure. So here is the recipe if anyone would like a taste of fall. The added bonus is your house will spell divine!!

Pumpkin Bars

2 cups flour-1 cup sugar-2 cups pumpkin(canned/1 can)-1 cup finely chopped walnuts or pecans-1/2 tsp cinnamon(or pumpkin pie spice)-4 eggs-3/4 cup oil(canola)

Beat eggs, add sugar, pumpkin, oil; blend well. Add slowly flour and cinnamon (add really slow so beaters do not spread whole house!) Pour into greased 9×13 glass pan and bake at 350 degrees for 30 mins. The cake will be very dense and smell like heaven.

Frosting

1 pkg(8 ozs) cream cheese(softened)-1 tsp. vanilla-1 tsp milk-6tblsp softened butter- 1 box of confectioners sugar

Beat softened cream cheese and butter, add milk and vanilla, blend well. Slowly add conf. sugar (seriously slow or there will be a sugar cloud!) Beat until light and fluffy (a few minutes)

When cake cools(good luck waiting!) frost cake. Place in fridge for a while to keep frosting firm. Cut in 2″ squares. ENJOY!!!

Welcome Fall!!

As a side note:

Way back I was the Production Manager/Graphic Artist for our local Newspaper and we did an insert for the holidays and this recipe was one of the deserts!


Just spreading the love, ya’ll!

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Majestic Cornbread

enjoyment, encouragement, Family, Food, Miscellaneous, Tennessee, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , ,

class=”size-full wp-image alignright” style=”border:.1px solid black;margin:.1px;” src=”https://preacherswifeintheknow.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/cornbread-3.jpg?w=140″ alt=”Image” width=”140″ height=”104″ />They say the first step to recovery is admitting the truth…..so here I go…..I LOVE CORNBREAD!!! The problem is I don’t think I want to be free from my love affair with cornbread……..I just am not sure that it would even help. Some things only happen after prayer and fasting…..um ok….have not prayed about it…check! and I know I haven’t fasted…check! So what’s a girl to do?

The fact that I have been raised on cornbread doesn’t help any….yes Oprah I am blaming it on my Mother….and my Grandmother and all of the Aunts and family friends who have made this delicious addition to the southern feast we call….”family dinner!” Actually I really don’t so much blame them, I more over give them credit. The rich heritage I was raised on in the South is one that I am not ashamed of nor embarrassed by. We have the majestic southern cornbread……don’t be jealous!

ImageAny one can make it….but we southern girls do it best! My raisin’ taught me to use Lard…yikes! Thankfully I do not choose to do that. That is one small step in the right direction but its all downhill after that.

I do feel that you must have the correct equipment starting with the Iron Skillet. Or should I say a “seasoned” Iron Skillet. New ones can be used, but the first few batches may not be as good as the latter ones…..Also the oven has to HOT…not just hot but, REALLY HOT with a chunk of butter melting while the skillet is getting hot…..the skillet MUST be HOT before the batter goes in. The sizzle is the sound you listen for when you pour in the batter.

The skillet, in my mind is the only way to cook the bread, with one exception and only one. My Mom used to have this cute little IRON pan with six little corn on cob shaped individual…..precious, small cornbread muffin-type muffins. They were very crispy with a soft center and really cute. Gotta love old memories!

The cornbread cooks for about twenty minutes or so…I prefer it to be on the crispy side. There are times that I consider cooking dinners that go especially well with cornbread. I suppose that would be considered an addictive personality when you plan the meal around the bread? I can say honestly the bread is the star….yes I do love good bread. This is why I do not cook bread usually. Imagine if I did….I would be the size of “the broad side of a barn!!”….okay I know I am nearly there….shush!

The once, ever so often batch of cornbread is my guilty pleasure. But if I had to choose between bread and meat, I would choose bread! This is ridiculous considering my body type…proof is in the (puddin’!) or bread, so to speak, goes right to my middle! But on those few occasions when I am at a restaurant that has great bread or I make the occasional skillet of lovely cornbread, I allow myself to enjoy. You only live once, right? Slather on the butter……mmmmmmmmmmm!

Image

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Majestic Cornbread

enjoyment, encouragement, Family, Food, Miscellaneous, Tennessee, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , ,

class=”size-full wp-image alignright” style=”border:.1px solid black;margin:.1px;” src=”https://preacherswifeintheknow.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/cornbread-3.jpg?w=140″ alt=”Image” width=”140″ height=”104″ />They say the first step to recovery is admitting the truth…..so here I go…..I LOVE CORNBREAD!!! The problem is I don’t think I want to be free from my love affair with cornbread……..I just am not sure that it would even help. Some things only happen after prayer and fasting…..um ok….have not prayed about it…check! and I know I haven’t fasted…check! So what’s a girl to do?

The fact that I have been raised on cornbread doesn’t help any….yes Oprah I am blaming it on my Mother….and my Grandmother and all of the Aunts and family friends who have made this delicious addition to the southern feast we call….”family dinner!” Actually I really don’t so much blame them, I more over give them credit. The rich heritage I was raised on in the South is one that I am not ashamed of nor embarrassed by. We have the majestic southern cornbread……don’t be jealous!

ImageAny one can make it….but we southern girls do it best! My raisin’ taught me to use Lard…yikes! Thankfully I do not choose to do that. That is one small step in the right direction but its all downhill after that.

I do feel that you must have the correct equipment starting with the Iron Skillet. Or should I say a “seasoned” Iron Skillet. New ones can be used, but the first few batches may not be as good as the latter ones…..Also the oven has to HOT…not just hot but, REALLY HOT with a chunk of butter melting while the skillet is getting hot…..the skillet MUST be HOT before the batter goes in. The sizzle is the sound you listen for when you pour in the batter.

The skillet, in my mind is the only way to cook the bread, with one exception and only one. My Mom used to have this cute little IRON pan with six little corn on cob shaped individual…..precious, small cornbread muffin-type muffins. They were very crispy with a soft center and really cute. Gotta love old memories!

The cornbread cooks for about twenty minutes or so…I prefer it to be on the crispy side. There are times that I consider cooking dinners that go especially well with cornbread. I suppose that would be considered an addictive personality when you plan the meal around the bread? I can say honestly the bread is the star….yes I do love good bread. This is why I do not cook bread usually. Imagine if I did….I would be the size of “the broad side of a barn!!”….okay I know I am nearly there….shush!

The once, ever so often batch of cornbread is my guilty pleasure. But if I had to choose between bread and meat, I would choose bread! This is ridiculous considering my body type…proof is in the (puddin’!) or bread, so to speak, goes right to my middle! But on those few occasions when I am at a restaurant that has great bread or I make the occasional skillet of lovely cornbread, I allow myself to enjoy. You only live once, right? Slather on the butter……mmmmmmmmmmm!

Image

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