Anti-Depression Oatmeal

This is a delicious and easy dish that actually gets my family to eat oatmeal willingly - and that's a challenge, let me assure you! (Even for myself, lol.) It comes from Neil Nedley's Depression Recovery clinic* and I post it just as I received it, but the picture shows it with my alterations, which I feel are significant enough to mention.

1. I used 1 cup of walnuts instead of coconut. (Much to my sadness, none of my guys likes coconut shreds - as they say it's "like eating grass.") Besides, as Dr. Nedley will tell you, walnuts are great "brain food."
2. I leave out the raisins, as bloated raisins aren't my personal favorite. I like them mostly only in cookies!
3. Most important to Dear Hubby and me - I use three cups milk and three cups water. It just seems too rich with 6 cups milk!

But anyway... I think however you play with this dish, you'll enjoy it!

Baked Blueberry Oatmeal

1 c. dates, diced
3 c. oats
1 c. coconut , shredded
¼ c. raisins, optional
1 ½ c. frozen blueberries
6 c. soy milk
2 T vanilla
½ t. salt

Makes a wonderful breakfast one-dish meal.

1. Spread ingredients in this order in the bottom of a 9 x 13 inch pan: dates, oats, coconut, raisins, berries.

2. In a bowl, mix milk, vanilla and salt. Pour over dry ingredients.

3. Bake at 325 for 1 hour (until liquid is absorbed).

Love, love, love this guy! He is a bit of a nerd, so not very "Hollywood" to listen to, but has access to great research and amazing, practical help for people who want to reach optimum mental performance. I am convinced that his a godly man with a lot of answers - and he's living the answers! He's not in an ivory tower, but a real-live dedicated doctor, committed husband, and loving daddy.
*http://www.drnedley.com/

Warm and Spicy!

Necessity is the mother of invention - again. These are the items I had in my cupboard, and, though delicious in a mature, unusual way, this dish is more of a testimony to working with what you've got than creativity for it's own sake. Enjoy!

Traveling Vegetables 

8-10 small Red potatoes, sliced
1 medium onion, sliced
1 box Morning Star Farms Breakfast links, thawed and copped
1 medium zucchini , sliced
4 stalks celery, chopped
1 teaspoon garlic, minced
⅓ cup oil
½ cup water
1 teaspoon turmeric
½ teaspoon cumin
2 tablespoons parsley
1 ½ teaspoons salt
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional

This dish has a taste of a little bit of everywhere. Complex and good!
1. Preheat oven to 400.
2. Chop all vegetables and put into a large bowl. Stir in oil, water, and herbs and place in a 9"x13" glass casserole baking dish and bake, covered, for 30 minutes. Uncover and continue to bake for another 20 minutes.

You can get the breakfast links in the freezer section at your favorite grocery store - even Walmart!

Warm Tahini Pita Dip

Sometimes you really need an appetizer that's tasty, and easy. This recipe is scrumptious, super healthy and can be served with gluten free bread, crackers, or felafels. Some delicious pita bread at my Aunt Janice's restaurant (Papa's Pizza in Fairhope, AL!!) inspired me to post this today. Actually, Uncle Terry said I had to post this, "Yes, Sir!"

Thanks Wendy for the idea for this recipe!! This is altered a bit, but reasonably close to hers. :-)

*Warning* - Tahini is quite different... and an acquired taste. :-)

Tahini Basil Dip

½ cup sesame tahini
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
5-6 cloves garlic, steamed
½ teaspoon salt
¼-½ cups fresh basil, chopped fine

1. Blend all but basil thoroughly in blender.

2. Stir in chopped basil and refrigerate.

Chewy Elephant Squares and County Fairs

Anyone in the mood for the county fair? This reminds me of a simpler, more wholesome version of the elephant ears I used to hunt down at the fair when I was a kid. Chewy, warm and delicious! Enjoy.


Chewy Elephant Squares


3 cups whole wheat flour, finely ground
1 teaspoon salt
½ cup oil, divided
1 ½ cups water
1 teaspoon cinnamon, optional, or to taste OR
1 teaspoon coriander, ground, optional, or to taste
½ cup sugar

1. Stir together flour, salt, and 2 tablespoons oil in a large bowl. Slowly stir in water until a soft dough forms. Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead, dusting with just enough flour to keep dough from sticking, until smooth and elastic, about 15 minutes. Form dough into a ball and coat with 2 tablespoons oil in a bowl. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let dough stand at warm room temperature 1 hour.

2. Preheat oven to 400. Divide dough into 2 equal pieces and roll out as thinly as possible into a rectangular shape on a lightly floured surface with a rolling pin. Place each one on a well-oiled cookie sheet and dust very lightly with cinnamon or coriander. Then sprinkle sugar over to taste.

3. Bake for about 15 minutes, then flip the dough and sprinkle with cinnamon/coriander and then sugar again. Return to oven and bake for about 15 more minutes. Cut and serve while warm.

Great when served still warm with your favorite vanilla ice cream.

Just use your favorite granulated sugar.

Luscious Layered Mint Brownie Cake

This delicious cake is way healthier than your average cake, full of wholesome goodness (ahem, as well as more calories than my typical recipes) and lacking in some of the less healthful stuff! It is sure to please the pickiest guest. Please, don't make the mistake of calling it chocolate cake or saying "It tastes like chocolate." It doesn't! But carob, if prepared right, has it's own wonderfully distinctive flavor!

Layered Mint Brownie Cake

½ cup oil
¾ cup mint chips, I used Andes red and white
1 cup sugar
1 ½ cups whole wheat flour, prairie gold
¾ cup Carob powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 tablespoons Roma, Coffee Substitute
2 tablespoons flax seed
1 cup water, (for flax seed gel)
1 to 1 ½ cup water
16 ounces whipped topping, low fat, thawed
1 ½ cups mint chips

Also try replacing the mint chips with peanut butter or butterscotch chips - or even cherry chips!

1. Mix 1 cup water and flax seed in a microwave safe bowl and microwave until boiling, about 2 minutes. Stir and bring to boiling again (10 seconds?) 3-4 times. Strain mixture and discard seeds, saving gel (or, on the recent suggestion of a friend, just stir them in!).

2. In a microwave or double boiler, melt down 3/4 cup of mint chips in the oil. Mix this in with sugar, flax seed gel, Roma and salt.

3. Mix in flour and carob powder, baking powder and remaining water and pour into three greased and floured 8" cake pans. Bake at 350 until a toothpick inserted comes out clean, for about 25 minutes. Allow to cool.

4. Frosting: Melt remaining mint chips in sauce pan over medium heat. Cool slightly and stir in half of the Cool Whip. Boil this for one minute and refrigerate for two hours, stirring from time to time. Mix in with remaining Cool Whip and spread between layers, over and on the sides of the cake. Garnish with fresh mint.

Recipe-Free Zone

I read about an interesting concept today that as time moves on, perhaps we, as Christians should no longer be quite so dependent upon recipes. Strange concept, I know, especially from a gal with loads of cookbooks and bookmarked cooking websites!

But I think I agree with the idea... How many complex recipes are tantalizing, interesting, but expensive, time-consuming and unhealthy? I'd like to encourage you to include more recipe-free dishes in your diet! Wouldn't it simplify your life and perhaps be helpful to your wallet? It also might bind you to your children and friends - as you teach them a favorite idea rather than email them a favorite recipe! Here are some suggestions:

What these suggestions are not:
1. More eating out
2. More pre-packaged foods
3. A repetitive cycle of the three recipes you know by heart.
4. Dependence on someone else's cooking

What these suggestions are:
1. Lots of fresh fruits and veggies, just eaten plain.
2. Lots of fresh fruits, chopped up, combined, and served with honey if necessary or a little yogurt or concentrated juice.
3. Lots of fresh salad (or not) veggies, chopped up, combined, and served with herbs and salt... (Just experiment a little and learn which flavors go together!)
4. Fruits (and greens?) and your favorite milk dumped together into a blender and eaten as a delicious smoothie.
5. Veggies lightly salted, chunked or sliced into a greased casserole dish, lightly salted and baked until the tips get a little browned.
6. Find a recipe for the basics you frequently consume that makes just enough for your family, and just understand the amounts well enough to recreate similar dishes in a jiffy. There are so many things you can try once you learn approximate ratios of dry-wet-fat-salt-sweet. Just remember that yeast need sugar, warmth and time and baking powder/soda must have some salt! Hope this didn't get too complex. Just get to understand your favorite two or three recipes enough to alter them at will! (see examples below)
7. Most important take home - simpler really is better - in so many ways!
Have a blessed, simply sweet Sabbath!
Melanie

(Example 1: one pound lentils and 8-10 cups water with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and a handful of herbs or chopped veggies makes the perfect amount for my family for one meal. This combination works well for other legumes, too!)
(Example 2: one cup of flour [ww or white] with a couple tablespoons of fat of some kind, 1 teaspoon of your type of baking powder and 1/4-1/2 teaspoon of salt mixed to together with 1/3 c of water or so makes great biscuits for two baked on 400 for 13 minutes or so - make sure to cover them in cloth so they don't get hard.)

Gluten-free? Of course!
Helpful in weight control? You bet!

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Thanks for the pic from: http://healthandcare.in/control-type-2-diabetes-with-fruits-and-vegetables/bio-fresh-fruits-and-vegetables/

Location:Pensacola,United States

Chicken Seasoning

One of the most valuable things in my kitchen has always been chicken-style seasoning, usually (or used to be) McKay's. So rather than continuing to pay $13 a jar, I decided to research and experiment a bit and came up with a delicious chicken seasoning of my own. This tastes great on popcorn or scrambled tofu, "chicken noodle soup," or any hundred of other recipes!

Please let me know what you think!

Chicken-Style Seasoning

2 tablespoons onion powder
1 teaspoon celery seed
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon turmeric
⅛ teaspoon sage
¼ cup maltodextrin, opt
2 tablespoons salt
3 teaspoons confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons nutrional yeast flakes
1 teaspoon parsley

1. Blend all but parsley until very smooth. Add parsley and blend again.
2. If you use the maltodextrin or other filler, this is 1 teaspoon to 8 ounces water for broth.

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Location:Memphis Ave,Pensacola,United States

Brave for Brussels Sprouts? Dare You!

Now for something a little unusual (surprised?)... One more way to sneak strange (but wonderful) food items into a tasty menu!

4 cups brussels sprouts, trimmed, cooked
4 cups soy milk
4 cups water
¼ cup Smart Balance Light
1 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons cornstarch

Servings/Yield: Servings: --
1.Blend milk, water, salt, cornstarch and Smart Balance light until very smooth. Add 2 cups of Brussells Sprouts and blend until smooth. Add remaining Brussells Sprouts and pulse blend until soup is lumpy, but no large pieces remain.
2.Cook on medium, stirring frequently, until mixture thickens.

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Location:Greenwell St,Bellview,United States

Wonderfully Crunchy, Chewy Young Sour Dough Bread!!

Yesterday one of my very dearest friends shared a new favorite recipe (from a friend of a friend of a friend of a...) - An amazing chewy bread that made a fantastic and healthy breakfast this morning! Thank you, Kelly!!
Overnight Young Sourdough Bread
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 cups unbleached white flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 teaspoons yeast
1 1/2 cups warm water
1. Stir all together and place in a covered bowl overnight or while you're at work through the day.
2. Next morning (or evening if you've done it during the day), preheat oven and dutch oven or (greased) large cast iron pot to 450.
3. Flour hands and roll soft dough quickly into a round loaf (no kneading required), then place in hot pot.
4. Bake with lid on for 30 minutes, and then uncovered until golden brown on top, 5-15 minutes. (I took mine out at 7 minutes.)
Not gluten free, for sure, but delicious enough to eat plain and it's low fat!
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Location:Greenwell St,Bellview,United States

Fear or Love? or Hospitality part 2

Not to get heavily into Bible doctrines, but I've been thinking about those who believe that fear (of burning in hell forever or loosing God's love or approval) is a good motivator for people to "be good" (or to "be sweet," as many a Southern Mama will instruct her children) or to "become a Christian."

Over the years of watching people and interacting with them, I'm sure that fear is one of the strongest motivators that can "inspire" people to change. But I'm also quite sure that the change is usually very temporary. There's only so long that a body and mind can run on adrenaline before it collapses in exhaustion. A life bathed in the intensity of an underlying fear will burn out in time, leaving a blackened, shriveled heart.

The Bible teaches of a God that is forgiving and kind and willing to grow us and hold us up through our stumblings. Does he expect obedience? Of course! Does he expect a willing heart? Absolutely! Does he expect purity and goodness? Without question! But I'm convinced that when we understand how gracious and forgiving He is, we can "lighten up" a little. We can be less obsessed with our every little action - with ourselves. We will then have the time and the freedom of spirit to notice other people - their struggles and needs - just like Jesus did.

I'm beginning to think that Jesus had a lot more human to Him than I've ever thought before. Maybe the Bible mentions the times that He stayed up all night praying (not to show us what a superstar He was, but) specifically because He was a man who usually "took care of Himself" and "got a good night's sleep," but that there's a time and a place when He needed an extra infusion of the Spirit for what He was facing. Yes, He was God, but perhaps the reason why He was able to succeed as a man was because He trusted in His Father enough to relax and fully and freely focus on, love and serve the people around Him, rather than obsessing over His own victory or (potential) failure.

So if you want to be like Jesus, if you want to be happy and free, relax in Him and allow Him to focus your life on other people. I believe that you will be surprised by how much a blessing this becomes to yourself and to others. You'll find yourself becoming a servant, like Jesus, but the freedom that you will find in this will be the true motivation to "be sweet."

Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? Romans 2:4


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Location:Greenwell St,Pensacola,United States

Olive Garden* Chef's Special

Disclaimer - this is not an actual Olive Garden Recipe... Which is actually kind of the point! Whenever we get a chance to go to Olive Garden, my sweet hubby always scans and searches the menu, hoping to discover some new recipe that he'll love. He doesn't usually find much different and defaults to the request he should be famous for: "Could you please ask the Chef to create something special for me? I want pasta and every vegetable you have back there. Tell them to have fun with it!"

The server sometimes hesitantly (and wide-eyed in uncertainty) agrees and takes all our orders back. What servers don't know is that most "chefs" are not in it to make the same recipes over and over. They often absolutely love to be creative and just never get a chance working for a chain restaurant. This request usually thrills them. Multiple times the chef himself has come it to check and see if Mike is pleased with his creation. Then Mike ooh's and ah's over the meal, and everyone's happy!

So (praise is my love language,) I decided to make my beloved a special "chef's creation," and was just as thrilled with his ooh's and ah's as the Olive Garden folks always are! He absolutely loved this dish. :-)

Olive Garden* Chef's Special

1 pound whole grain spaghetti, cooked
2 jullienned sweet onions
6 stalks celery, leaves and all
3 carrots, sliced
1 can ripe green olives, drained (by the way, Walmart now sells these for $1.62!!)
½ cup olive oil
1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
1 teaspoon salt
1 ½ cups spaghetti sauce


1.In a large skillet, heat olive oil and add onions, stirring briefly. Saute until slightly soft, 2-3 minutes.
2.Turn down heat to medium. Add celery, carrots and olives and stir. Cover and cook until carrots soften, 3-5 minutes.
3.Combine all and serve hot.

*No chefs were harmed in the creation of this meal (or blog).

PS: This could easily be made gluten free.
PS2: This is not nearly as fattening as the real Chef's Specials!

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Location:Greenwell St,Bellview,United States

Soup-ine or Hospitality part 1

In my first semester of Anatomy and Physiology we were asked to learn directional terms for the body. A pair that people typically have a problem with is "supine" vs. "prone." Our instructor gave us a visual that will always stick with me, especially after I had yet another "visual" attached to it awhile later...

She told us to envision a child with cupped hands and hungry face up, pleading to be filled - with soup. Supine is when the body is facing up. Prone, or face down, is the opposite.

Later, I was at a meeting for pastors' wives and our president told us the story of a local group who had begun teaching young people to do pottery with the ministry idea of filling people's bowls. The group was selling these creative, beautiful bowls and using the money to fund their own ministry to people, while asking purchasers to carefully consider, "What am I filling their cups with?" I thought about my teacher's little child with the soup-ine hands.

Though the Bible lists hospitality as one of the gifts of the Spirit, insinuating that people may have it in varying degrees, each one of us is expected to serve and love and share with others people.

The picture above is of my bowl that my friend brought me from that project. Inside you can see a bit of the hand engraved words, "I'm full." I promise, if you have others in your life at all, you are filling their bowls. The question you should ponder is, "What am I filling them with?" I've made a commitment that I renew everyone I look at my bowl to fill other people's lives with blessings and goodness. What abut you?

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Location:Greenwell St,Pensacola,United States

Feed a Crowd on a Shoestring!

Do you ever need to feed a crowd on a shoestring? This meal is easy and delicious, and cheap! I often have to hide beans (unless it's Mexican refried beans) around here, and this certainly works for that, as well!

15 Bean Stew for a Crowd

1 pound 15 bean dry mix
12 cups water
1 teaspoon salt
8 ounces tomato paste
1 small head cabbage
1 large onion
2 large potaotes
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
1 teaspoon salt, or to taste


1. Bring beans, 1 teaspoon of salt, and water to a rolling boil on high heat. Turn heat down to medium and boil for 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
2. Mix tomato paste into a two or three cups of water until smooth. Combine all and boil, covered until potatoes and cabbage soften, about a half hour.

My guys love this with some nice sweet "Yankee Cornbread"!

You could also make it all in a crockpot overnight (low heat setting).


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Location:Greenwell St,Bellview,United States

Grape Juice Stinks

Most people wash their dishes on a regular basis, right? That's something that we regard pretty highly around our home, too - keeping the potential stacks and piles of dishes clean and in the cabinets. But there is one exception: we are all water drinkers, so I have encouraged my guys to save a cup for multiple uses so that we don't have to wash more every ten minutes!

So my husband got into the habit of flipping his favorite cup (a huge Coke cup that was a gift) upside down on the window sill and only washing it once very day or two. But after a few months one day he grabbed it at supper time and filled it with his favorite juice, grape juice. As students on a tight budget with boys that can really eat, we don't have juice very often, so he sat down to enjoy it with special relish.

We were all surprised and a little amused when his eyes widened and then his face distorted. "What is wrong with this juice?! It smells terrible!"

We we're all enjoying ours, so he went and poured it into a different glass. It then smelled and tasted fine, and he drank it down. The story ended with him not only washing the cup, but thoroughly washing the window sill on which it was sitting.

When's the last time you evaluated your life? Do you know that it's pretty easy to look pretty and shiny and clean, and even for good stuff to shine through, while being not quite right? But those closest to you will always know. They can smell you - even if you can't smell yourself. Don't think you can continually rub up against things that aren't 100% clean without it affecting you immensely (if over time). Do make sure you are clean and filled with only the best, but be open enough to ask those who are nearest if you are starting to stink. Allow Jesus to wash your windowsill - to clean you completely!


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Location:Greenwell St,Bellview,United States