Month: September 2017

One of my childhood friends was in Washington DC recently, and we had the chance to get together one evening and catch up.  At some point, we got to talking about food, and she made a comment which went something along the lines of “who doesn’t like a lentil soup?”  We had a great time talking about both the past and the future, but for some reason her comment about lentil soup has stuck in my head.  It may be a bit too warm where you are to try this rich soup now, but don’t worry, the days are getting shorter and the air will be cold before we know it.  The recipe comes from Dr. Joel Fuhrman’s website.

Lentil and Sweet Potato Soup

Serves 8

Ingredients

8 cups water

2 cups carrot juice, fresh or bottled (I used bottled)

2 15 oz cans diced tomatoes (no salt added)

2 tb. Mrs. Dash no salt seasoning

2 medium red onions, chopped

3 stalks celery, chopped

2 carrots, chopped

6 garlic cloves, minced

1 tb. dried oregano

1 1/2 tsp. dried basil

1 tsp. ground coriander

1 tsp. dried thyme

1 lb. dried green lentils, rinsed

1 red bell pepper, chopped

1/2 green bell pepper, chopped

2 small zucchini, chopped

1 sweet potato, diced

1 5 oz. bag spinach

3 tb. basalmic vinegar

3/4 cup raw cashews (Trader Joe’s)

Preparation

Place all ingredients except sweet potato, spinach, vinegar and cashews in a large soup pot.  Bring to a simmer and cook for 45 minutes.  Add sweet potato and simmer for an additional 15 minutes, or until sweet potato is tender.  Remove from heat and add spinach.  Stir occasionally until spinach has wilted.  Add vinegar, stir.  Place 2 cups or more of soup and raw cashews in a high power blender (I use Vitamix) and blend until very smooth.  Add back into soup, stir, and serve.

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Here in Maryland, it’s starting to feel, at least a little bit, like fall.  I love it.  To me, the change of seasons reminds me that there are many things, including weather, that are outside of my control.  The recent hurricanes are sadly a clear indication of this.  May God bless and strengthen those who have been effected by these incredible disasters.  Some things, however, are clearly within our control, and from time to time, changes need to be made.  Over this past summer, I’ve created a little time of advisors to help me discern this blog and all the various components which make up Making All Things New.

One of the topics was this website, and the need for some more consistent posting, on point topic selection, and additional abilities to interact with those who visit here.  As the summer season gives way to fall, now is a good time to make these changes.  In the next few weeks, you’ll be able to see them for yourself, and I believe you’ll like what you see.  Remember, I’ve been posting here since 2009, so it will take some time to review and reorganize the hundreds of posts you can find here.  Thanks in advance for your patience.

If there are specific topics you would like to see, please email me at paul@makingallthingsnew.com.

Finally, I want to remind you of the Scripture passage from which the title of this blog comes.  Not only a title, but also a mission, which is to help people realize God’s ongoing creative activity in the world all around us, including you and me.

“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert”. (Isaiah 43:19)

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A few weeks ago, I was talking with some friends who are getting ready to move across the country.  They are retired, and are moving to California to be closer to family.  This past summer, their children came to visit, wanting to spend some time in the house of their childhood before it’s sold.  In many ways, they were on  pilgrimage to a place of deep meaning for them.  They stayed in the house, walked the neighborhood, visited old friends and hung out in their old haunts.  What a blessing it must have been for them, and I’m sure they left Maryland with some new memories which will no doubt blend with the old.

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