Sunday, September 27, 2015

FeeDiNG SouLS and SToMaCHS: White Cheese Chicken and Spinach Lasagna

Another Monday. Another gathering. Another discussion. Another meal. Another full night--both stomachs and souls.  The topic: The Belt of Truth and The Breastplate of Righteousness.  The menu: White Cheese Chicken and Spinach Lasagna and Chopped Tomato and Cucumber Salad (to be posted).

For the White Cheese Chicken and Spinach Lasagna you'll need:

10 oz bag of baby spinach, lightly chopped
2-3 T olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped (use 1/4 c with spinach, the rest with the white sauce)
pinch of salt

2 cloves garlic
1/2 c butter
1/2 c flour
1 tsp salt
2 c chicken broth
1 1/2 c milk
2 c shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 c grated or shredded Parmesan cheese
1 tsp dried oregano
1/8 tsp black pepper

9 lasagna noodles (I used the oven-ready kind to save time, but I prefer the kind you boil)
1 c ricotta cheese
2 c cooked, cubed chicken (Again to save time, I used the store oven-fresh whole already cooked chicken! I just cut-up the breasts and kept the rest of the chicken in the fridge to eat for sandwiches.)
2 c shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 c grated or shredded Parmesan cheese
Optional: fresh grated Parmesan cheese and chopped fresh parsley for topping

Step 1
In a large sauce pan or in a dutch oven, braise the fresh spinach. To do this, pour about 2 T of oil on the bottom and lightly sauté 1/4 c onion.


Place all 10 oz (lightly chopped) spinach into the pan/dutch oven, and pour 1 T of oil on top of the spinach.  Sprinkle a pinch of salt, and cover. 



 Let braise (or wilt) over medium to medium-high heat.  Stir occasionally.  Once spinach is all wilted down and has a nice dark green color, remove from heat and set aside in a bowl.



Step 2
In the same sauce pan/dutch oven, sauté the onion in the 1/2 c of butter.  When the onion is soft (about 5 min.), press 2 cloves of garlic and add to the sautéed onion.



Stir in the flour and salt; simmer until bubbly.  Stir in the broth and milk and boil, stirring constantly for 1 minute.  

Stir in 2 c mozzarella and 1/2 c Parmesan cheeses.  Add the oregano and black pepper.  Set aside.



Step 3
Preheat oven to 350˙F. 

Using a ladle or spoon, spread 1/3 of the white cheese sauce mixture on the bottom of a 9x13" baking dish.
Add one layer of lasagna noodles. Spread all of the ricotta over the noodles.


Sprinkle half of the chicken, then add another layer of noodles, sauce mixture, 1/2 of spinach, and 2 c of mozzarella cheese. 

Add another layer of noodles, sauce, the rest of the chicken and spinach; and the Parmesan cheese.

Top off with a final layer of noodles and sauce. (Optional: top with fresh grated Parmesan cheese  and fresh chopped parsley.)

2nd layering of noodles, sauce, chicken, spinach


{The beauty of lasagna is that you can layer it any which way you want just as long as you have moisture a.k.a. sauce next to the noodles.}

Step 4
Bake for 35-40 minutes and enjoy! {Sorry, I don't have a finished product picture...I believe my small group and I inhaled it before I thought to take a picture of the final result!  When I make it again, I'll post a pic! :)}


And feeding our souls...

From the Armor of God study, Week 3 video:


"The Holy Spirit's job is to chip away at everything that doesn't look like Jesus." ~Priscilla Shirer

That means, if we expect to walk with Jesus, we must be willing to look like Jesus; and anything that doesn't (habits, friends, situations, traits, et al) will be chipped away by the Holy Spirit.  Are you willing?


"Righteousness is not manufactured; it is released." ~Priscilla Shirer

Whew! Good stuff. Good food. Can't wait for more!!



Wednesday, September 23, 2015

WorshipFULLWednesday...Just Be Held

"Don't be afraid, for I am with you.
Don't be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand."

~Isaiah 41:10



Ever need to know someone has you?  Has your back? Has you on his mind? Has you in his heart?  Has you in his schedule?  Has your burdens? your pain? your worries? your fears?  Good news!!  God does.  He has you.  He has all of you. In his hands.  So, let Him hold you.  Let Him have you. Let Him have all your burdens, pain, worries, fears.  Just be held.



Sunday, September 20, 2015

DIY Project! ~ Scripture Calendar

Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. 
And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. 
Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

~Deuteronomy 6:4-9

God's holy Word is full of commands and compassion, and more importantly it is the truth by which we ought to live. Therefore, I'm determined to put TRUTH all over my house. 

Today, I made a Scripture Calendar.  I took an antique, wooden frame that I had already prewired with eyelet screws, attached wire to, and clipped on small wooden clothespins; a stack of Project Life cards that I purchased from Michaels craft store; and my computer and printer.

I printed the days of the month on one side of the Project Life cards, and then, printed some of my favorite scriptures on the other side (some of the cards already had sayings on them, so I didn't print scripture on them). I also used some cards to
make the calendar months of the year.  

Finally, I hooked them on using small wooden clothespins.  I really should get a bigger frame, but like I said, I already had this one (I use it for an advent calendar...stay tuned for that project idea).  

When the day begins, I can just flip the previous day over and read the encouraging words on the other side.   I'm so excited because this will be a great way for me to memorize scripture as well as be equipped for the day ahead!



I need more wall space. #problemsofsmallcondolivinginthecity #officespace

Saturday, September 19, 2015

FeeDiNG SouLS and SToMaCHS: Beef Stew

Mondays get a bad rap. I get it. It's the start of a work week, an end to a weekend.  But Mondays for me are the best day of the week because I have the honor of meeting regularly with a group of women who come hungry both for food and for God.  (We are currently engaged in Priscilla Shirer's Armor of God study, which I highly recommend if you're looking for a Bible study.)

Comfort food is my go-to food when trying to figure out what to make for my small group.  I've had a hankering for soup lately plus fall is just around the corner (well, not so much for us here in Houston but anyway), so beef stew was on the menu.

Here's what you'll need:

  • dutch oven    
  • pre-cut beef for stew (2 lbs., 1" pieces)
  • 64 oz  beef broth
  • 1/4 c  red wine
  • 1 tsp. dried thyme
  • 2-3  bay leaves
  • 1/4 tsp. pepper
  • 4 carrots, cut into 1" pieces
  • 4 medium potatoes, cut into 1" pieces
  • 1/4 c  diced onion                 

  • measuring glass
  • 4 Tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 c water
  • optional: french bread or other crusty bread cut into pieces and buttered

Step 1:
Over medium-heat, in nonstick Dutch oven cook beef until browned, stirring often.  Drain off fat.

Step 2:
Add broth, wine, thyme, bay leaves, and pepper.  Heat to a boil.  Reduce heat to low.  Cover and keep covered for 1 and a 1/2 hours.

Step 3: 
Add carrots, potatoes, onions. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, 30-45 min. more or until beef is fork-tender and veggies are done.

Step 4:
In a measuring glass, combine flour and water until smooth.  Gradually add to broth mixture.  Over medium heat and stirring constantly, cook until mixture boils and thickens.

Step 5:
Discard bay leaves.  Serve hot with crusty bread and butter.  Serves 6-8 people.


"Satan's suggestions can never stand up against the light of God's Holy Word."
~Priscilla Shirer, The Armor of God, Week 2 : The Belt of Truth

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

WorshipFULLWednesday...No Longer Slaves


"For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline."

~2 Timothy 1:7

"I'm no longer a slave to fear.  For I am a child of God."  Can I get a HALLELUJAH?! And an AMEN?!  I need to know this.  YOU need to know this.  Satan wants us to doubt, fear, question, worry, and weaken in our present circumstances.  Why?  Because when we do, we separate ourselves from the power of God within us and we separate ourselves from God.  

The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.  ~Psalm 28:7

See, God has come to save me. I will trust in him and not be afraid. The Lord God is my strength and my song; he has given me victory.” ~Isaiah 12:2


But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. ~Isaiah 40:31


See! This is the power God desires us to have.  This is truth.  He knows our present circumstances, and He knows if we trust instead of doubt, if we trust instead of fear, if we trust instead of question, if we trust instead of worry; and if we trust instead of weaken, then we have the power we need, the STRENGTH to have the victory over our present circumstances.  Seek Him and PRAISE Him!  

Praise Him when it seems hopeless!  Praise Him when it seems hard!  Praise Him when it hurts!  Praise Him right now! Praise Him!  Because our God IS GOOD.  Our God IS TRUSTWORTHY.  Our God IS LOVE.  Our God is MIGHTY.  Our God STRENGHTHENS.  Our God SAVES.  And YOU ARE NO LONGER slaves to fear. YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD. Hallelujah! Amen!!