Thursday, December 1, 2011

December 1, 2011

It's the first day of December and aren't we doing great?  I was laying in bed last night thinking how different one year can be.  This time last year I was baking life a fiend with as much sugar as I could load in every recipe, buying candy and eating tons each day in preparation for my diet in January, planning elaborate food items for parties that were definitely "artery cloggers," and trying to determine how I ever let myself get to this state.  Ever been there?   I remember when my grandkids were all coming for dinner and stockings.  I could hardly get my pants buttoned and my leather jacket could only hide so much.  I looked at pictures from last year and while I am smiling in the photo, I was weeping on the inside.  MAN - what a difference 56 pounds can make.  Can you imagine filling a trash bag with 56 pounds of butter - that's 56 boxes - that's over 200 sticks and trying to carry that around, hide that, and work around that????  OMGoodness - no wonder I was miserable.  BUT GOD....... :)    THANK YOU, FATHER!

And, each of you have played a part in this too by walking with me toward health for us all.   I pray that 2012 enlarges our group of health-conscious people who will fight to the death to remain free.  I KNOW some of you are struggling with a few pounds - that's ok.  Keep eating correctly every day - don't cheat and make excuses for it - sometimes our bodies need a rest and will hold a few pounds, but if you don't grow weary of choosing to eat correctly and get ALL your water in, your body will respond.  I promise.    

Love more deeply today than you did yesterday - touch an extra five people as they may need encouragement.  Sometimes this season, which is meant for giving and loving, only highlights the fact that some can't give as they wish and that makes them sad.   Give someone the gift of a smile - God is smiling at you this morning.  It's not what you give - but that you give.  Give BIG hugs today!   They count.

Glad you are in my life - PK

PS - Here is a recipe sent by one of the fam - can't wait to try it.   Looks yummy. 


Roasted Zucchini, Eggplant and Tomato Casserole serves 6-8
Ingredients:
1 medium zucchini
3 small or one medium to large eggplant
1/2 red onion
3 plum sized tomatoes
3-4 cloves garlic
3 TBS olive oil
1 tsp sea or kosher salt
1/4 pound ground beef
12 onces of your favorite tomato sauce
4 sprigs fresh thyme
1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.  Roughly chop all your vegetables into 1/2 inch chunks and mince the garlic nice and small.  Place the zucchini, eggplant and half of the chopped onion into a large casserole dish.  Drizzle with the olive oil, sprinkle with sea salt, and mix to coat the vegetables.  Place in the oven.
In a large frying pan, crumble and brown the ground beef.  Once it’s browned, add the garlic and rest of the onion and mix well.  Let cook a couple minutes until the onion is softening and the smell makes your mouth water!
Add the chopped tomatoes, tomato sauce, and the leaves from 3 of the thyme sprigs.  Mix well.
Remove the casserole dish from the oven, and pour the tomato hamburger mixture over the vegetables.  Sprinkle with the feta cheese over the top and return to the oven.  Cook for 25 minutes.  Remove from oven and let sit 3-5 minutes before serving.  Garnish with segments of the remaining sprig of thyme.
Approximate cost/serving: If you have a side dish or two, this can make 8 servings.  It uses only a little ground beef which totally cuts costs.  Our beef was free and all the veggies were from the CSA, but if you bought everything in the grocery store, it would cost around $5.50 to make, so about 69 cents a serving.
Vegetarian/gluten free: This is still delicious without the meat and can even be vegan if you skip the cheese.  Totally gluten free as well.

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