Quinoa - where have you been all my life??

We recently discovered quinoa in our house, and I am absolutely in love! I've been experimenting like crazy, trying to figure out the exact best way(s) to work it into our regular diet. 

For my first attempt, I just made it with water, exactly as the package said. Basic. I wanted to get a sense of the natural flavor and texture. Truth be told, I liked it! It's good. After a few plain bites, I dressed it up with a touch of seasoning and butter. Yummy! 

On my next attempt, I cooked the quinoa in chicken stock with spinach and tuna. It was also very good. My family can easily do without the tuna, so I will leave that out next time. Or perhaps serve it on the side.

Then one night I pulled out some plain quinoa from the fridge, drizzled it with olive oil, sprinkled it with parmesan cheese, and heated it up in the microwave. Delish!

Last night I cooked it in chicken stock with spinach again, but I used too much spinach and it sort of overwhelmed the dish. 

For Valentine's Day, I made a Cinnamon Quinoa Breakfast Bake. That was yummy! I made it again this morning, but instead of a baking dish, I made it in individual muffin cups. Later I will try freezing a few and seeing how they last. We love baked oatmeal in the morning. I make a big double batch (one with chocolate chips, one with dried fruit) and freeze them in individual portion sizes. They are very quick in filling in the morning. So I'm hoping the quinoa will work the same way. So far, they seem to be working. They set well in the muffin cups. I ate one warm and it was a tad crumbly, so we'll have to see. 

I'm so pleased to have found this versatile and delicious super food! What's your favorite quinoa recipe?

Soup, or Salad?

I am on a quest. God is doing some refining, among that, a shift in the way we, the Hilton's, think and act toward food. So here's my current hurdle.

I do not like soup or salad.  Growing up, soups had zero flavor to my taste bud impaired mouth, and without any good texture to commend them to my palate, I pretty much steered clear. As my tastes have matured, I have come to appreciate tomato soup (assuming it comes alongside a yummy grilled cheese sandwich!), broccoli cheddar, and New England Clam Chowder (assuming they come in a warm bread bowl...do you see the pattern emerging?). Soups are an afterthought in my kitchen.

When asked, "Soup or salad?" I choose salad. But only because I have to. I ascribe to the belief that salad is good for you. It is a necessary precursor, a versatile side dish, or a pretty base to serve a meal on.  I once saw my grandmother order a salad  and then proceed to eat everything but the lettuce! She had the right idea! It's not that they can't be made with delicious ingredients, it's just that they are so tedious to eat! So it's not always a problem of taste or texture, but just boredom! I never feel satisfied after eating a salad.

But as I research new recipes and look for new and exciting habits to replace the old standbys, "Soup" and "Salad" seems to come up a lot. I don't know what to do with this.

Personal Reflections from Made to Crave, chap 6

Denying myself to get closer to God...not something I am particularly good at. I'm a very indulgent person. If it's something I or someone I love wants, my answer is nearly is always, "Yes! Let's do it!" and believe me, I will find a way to justify it! On the rare occasions I do resist temptation and deny myself whatever it is I am wanting, I find myself very susceptible to self-righteousness. 

I know God has me on a journey of discipline...reading 7, joining Hello Mornings, Weight Watchers...and I do believe He is honored when we make choices based on wisdom rather than self-indulgence. Someone once told me that your house/car/whatever is a reflection of your state of mind. To one extent I see that as true. The more self-indulgent and disorganized my spirit is, the less attention I focus on my little corners of the world. When I put first things first, I am better able to stay on top of things, keeping them well ordered, which in turn gives our souls room to breathe and experience beauty. 

The Holy Spirit does give me counsel when it comes to food choices. I am ashamed to admit that I am well practiced in ignoring him. In fact sometimes I won't even allow myself to ask the question because I already know what answer he'll give me, and I don't want to hear it!  That is where stubbornness and self-indulgence (wow - can we say word of the day??) win out and why I understand that this whole food issue is very much a more spiritual journey than anything else.

My lack of discipline and self control in matters of food has created a weight problem. As a result, I am uncomfortable and self conscious in my skin. So I don't pursue art with my whole heart. I'm embarrassed sometimes to even go out in public and my natural reservations and shyness are much worse, so opening my heart to new relationships is more difficult too. How can I build relationships in my community and focus on furthering the Kingdom when I am too embarrassed and focused on my own failings?

Much like my relationship to food, I think I am one of those Christians who is spiritually overfed! Lots of emphasis on taking in (Bible studies, books, sermons, etc.) and not nearly enough going out (serving, putting truth into practice, etc.). I would also say that I'm spiritually malnourished in the sense that I will take in the quick and easy candy coated "Christianese" sayings rather than spend time with the whole grain goodness of the Word. And I absolutely use food to fill my spiritual voids. When I am nervous or vulnerable or sad...break out the comfort food!

   

Personal Reflections from Made to Crave, chap 5

I am a classic first born people pleaser. I don't do failure or rejection very well. Even slight faux pas can really trip me up. I feel, in nearly all areas of my life, like I just need to do better, be more disciplined, stay on top of things, because I have something to prove. I'm not good enough or worth the effort. 

I rely on external things to feel good about myself. I enjoy a feeling of pride when I say that my husband is an actor (especially when he is in a show!) and a deep sense of shame when I have to talk about how we lost our jobs or how we moved in with my parents. 

Ephesians 1:17-20

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms. 

I've always felt like I should be able to ask once and then it'd be done; that there is shame in having to ask again, or worse, over and over. Persistent prayer is necessary, not because God is busy, but because my heart is arrogant. I need the reminder that it is not in my power. 

I wallow in my old identity. I feel awkward and unworthy and shackled by my incapability. I feel defined by my weakness. But I am the daughter of the King; a beloved creation of the Author of the universe. Like the lyrics of the song, "You make everything glorious...what does that make me?" I cry when I hear that because it reminds me that I am made for more. When I identify myself with Christ, I am free to love and live without reservations. 

Not for my sake, but so that I may know him better. One of my favorite stories is You Are Special by Max Lucado. Only by spending time with Eli, the maker, is Punchinello free from the criticism and judgments - good and bad! - of the other Wemicks. What joy! What relifef, to know hope, and riches, and power - not mine but his! Not what I can do which is weak and temporary, but what he can do which is eternal and perfect. 

My journey to health is not about the scale or even feeling good. It is not about what I can do. It is about living in the victory of what Jesus has already done. About identifying myself in him and leaning on his strength so that his name is glorified in my corner of the world.