Month: November 2010

Footprints In The Sand

I don’t know how we got on the topic, but last night my fourth grade class got to talking about some of their favorite possessions. You wouldn’t have been surprised with most of them: computer games, toys, lacrosse sticks, ipods, etc.

When one boy raised his hand, I thought for sure he would say something related to sports. I can tell already that he loves playing sports, and I’m pretty sure he’s good at whatever he plays.

So when he talked about a little plaque that hangs on his wall, I was surprised. He told the class that he loves the words to the poem Footprints In The Sand, which are printed on the plaque. To be honest, I was so surprised by what he said, I think I just mumbled thanks and moved on to the next kid.

Later, I began thinking about the old expression, you can’t judge a book by its cover. This little guy really impressed me.

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Roasted Squash and Apple Soup

Post author By seedthrower1
Post date 11/16/2010
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Squash and apples are pretty bountiful right now. Roasting them together adds a nice depth to their wonderful flavors. Throw in some garlic, and you have a simple and tasty soup, perfect for a cold fall evening. Enjoy.

Roasted Squash and Apple Soup

serves six

3 lbs butternut squash

2 medium granny smith apples, halved and cored
1 head garlic
4 cups vegetable stock
Salt and pepper to taste
Pinch of nutmeg
Pinch of thyme

Cut squash in half, scoop out seeds and place cut side down on a parchment lined baking sheet.

Cut garlic head in half and place cut side down with squash on baking sheet.

Place apples cut side down on baking sheet as well.

Bake at 400º for 35-40 minutes.

Scoop squash and apples from skins and place in saucepan. Squeeze roasted garlic halves from their skins into saucepan as well. Add 3 cups of the vegetable stock and with an immersion blender, blend until smooth. Add more stock to obtain desired consistency. Heat and add salt and pepper to taste. Add nutmeg and thyme. Optional: Add a bit of curry powder, hot paprika or cayenne pepper for a bit of spice.

Inspiration

Try Something New

It’s hard to believe that Thanksgiving will be here next week. Where, can someone tell me, has the year gone? As we gear up for the holidays, I’d like to encourage you to try something new. No, it doesn’t have to be food related (although that wouldn’t be a bad thing).

Recently, a friend of mine called to see if I was interested in running a marathon with him. Now, that’s something new for me, and it will require a lot of effort. But, what the heck. Why not? So, it looks like I may start some serious training in the next couple of weeks. Although the race we have in mind is next October, it will take me that long to get myself together.

As you read these words, I’d encourage you to think about doing something you’ve been putting off. Maybe it’s taking an art class, or learning a new style of cooking. For you, it could be getting yourself back on track financially, seeking a new job, or making a spiritual retreat.

Whatever it is, start soon. The year is ending in about six weeks. Make a resolution to do something new as we finish up the year. I can hardly remember the resolutions I made in January. By making one now, I just might be able to stick with it. Six weeks should be enough time, don’t you think?

Today, a friend of mine became a father. Congratulations, Will! Welcome to our world, Grayson 🙂 May God grant you many happy and healthy years.

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Great Fall Tastes

We’re all looking to improve our health and well being (at least I hope you are) 🙂 I came upon this list the other day, and thought it would be good to share it with you. Everything on the list is pretty easy to find, especially in these days leading up to Thanksgiving.

Over the last year or so, I’ve developed an appreciation of beets, one of the items on the list. When I was a kid, I remember my mom eating beets. They tasted like dirt to me, and I avoided them with a passion. Last fall, I was in a restaurant in Baltimore, and there was a roasted beet salad on the menu. I tried it and was really impressed with what roasting can do to the flavor of this simple and nutritious ingredient.

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Dreamfields Pasta

I’ve written about Dreamfields Pasta in the past, but during this second week of Diabetes Awareness Month, I wanted to mention them again. This is a fantastic product for anyone watching their carbohydrate intact, whether they are diabetic or not. You’ll have some terrific health benefits, and I promise that you won’t detect any difference in quality, texture, or taste 🙂

When I first met with a diabetic educator almost two years ago, she basically told me that I wouldn’t be able to eat pasta again, unless it was a very, very small portion. Ouch. Of all the foods I would miss on my new diet, I would put pasta ahead of meat.

I learned about Dreamfields from an ad in one of my mother’s diabetes magazines. I jumped onto their website and was impressed with what I read. Dreamfields was a great addition to a diabetes diet 🙂 🙂 The reason for this is because of the way the produce their pasta. You can find the specific details on their website, but for now let me just say that a serving of Dreamfields pasta has only FIVE carbs and is 65% lower gylcemic index than traditional pasta.

Inspiration

Veteran’s Day

Today, our nation honors all the men and women of our Armed Forces. They have ensured our freedom for over two hundred years, and today shouldn’t be just another day off from work.

Please take a moment and say a prayer for all our veterans, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice and gave their lives.Remember also the many men and women who have been injured in our present wars. They will suffer for the rest of their lives to serve our country.

If you have a chance to thank a vet today, be sure and make the effort. We all owe them an immense debt of gratitude.

The Gettysburg Address

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, upon this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived, and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met here on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of it as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But in a larger sense we can not dedicate – we can not consecrate – we can not hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled, here, have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember, what we say here, but can never forget what they did here.

It is for us, the living, rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they have, thus far, so nobly carried on. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us – that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they here gave the last full measure of devotion – that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation shall have a new birth of freedom; and that this government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

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Swiss Chard and Lentil Soup

Post author By seedthrower1
Post date 11/10/2010
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Yesterday morning, I was looking through one of my favorite cookbooks, Twelve Months of Monastery Soups. I wanted to try to make something quick, simple, and, of course, tasty. I also wanted to prepare something I hadn’t made before. Brother Victor’s Swiss Chard and Lentil Soup met all my criteria, and the end result was one of the best soups I’ve made.

Generally, I don’t use swiss chard much, mainly because it’s not always available at the grocery store, but I have gotten some at my local farmer’s market. Determined to make this recipe, I went on the hunt for this main ingredient, and found it at the first store I went to. Perfect.

Ignatian Spirituality Prayer Spirit

Prayer, Anyone?

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all he has done.

Then, His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

Our former pastor used to tell us a simple way to remember to pray:

A. S. A. P. (Always Say A Prayer)

Prayer is a funny thing. We all know we should do it, but for most of us, it sits pretty low on the to do list. Why is that?

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Nutritional Supplements and Diabetes

Post author By seedthrower1
Post date 11/08/2010
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I’m blessed to have some great friends who have helped me in my efforts to reverse diabetes. This past Saturday, Jeff was my first guest blogger, and he wrote about the importance of physical exercise. Today, my friend Todd Burrier will be blogging on how nutritional supplements can support/improve glucose levels and our overall health.

This Tuesday night (November 9th) at 9:15pm Eastern Todd will be presenting a webinar/conference call about Diabetes. This will be a comprehensive overview. Todd will share information on a wide range of relevant topics that are all focused on living a longer healthier life whether someone is currently diabetic or pre-diabetic.

While this information will also be relevant for type-1, the majority of the focus will be on reducing risks and reducing severity of type-2 (90% of all diabetes) as well as avoiding completely for pre-diabetic people (20% of the adult population!).

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Freedom with God

Yesterday, I had the chance to visit with a group of people attending a Diabetes Workshop at our local hospital. They were all looking for ways that they could improve their health despite dealing with this chronic illness. As you may know, I think bringing God into the situation is the missing key that many people forget. That goes for any situation, not just an illness.

Today’s three-minute retreat from Loyola Press speaks beautifully to this idea. As I was reflecting upon their message this morning, I thought I should share it on this blog. I know some of you already subscribe and get the retreats emailed to you. If you don’t, you should. They are a great way to start your day, and you’ll join about 16,000 people who visit the site each day.

Click here and take the next three minutes to pray about what it could mean to you to have

Freedom With God