Old Fashioned Lentil Soup

6 cups chicken or vegetable stock
1 cup dried lentils
2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
2 cloves fresh garlic, chopped
3 celery stalks, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
3 large carrots, peeled and chopped
1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes,,,
salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

In a large non stick Dutch oven over medium-low heat saute the onions, garlic, celery and carrots until soft, stirring occasionally until the onions are transparent, about 5-8 minutes. Add the tomatoes and the salt and pepper.

Add in the lentils and the broth and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to a simmer and cook until the lentils are soft, about 45 minutes. You may need to add more broth as the soup gets thicker as it cooks. Enjoy!

Tartar Sauce

2 cups Mayonnaise
2/3 cup dill pickle relish
2Tablespoons grated white onion
1oz fresh lemon juice
Pickle juice to thin
Instructions
Mix, refrigerate and serve

Corn Chowder

1 lb. bacon
1 yellow onion, diced
6 lg. carrots, peeled
6 sm. red bell peppers
8 ears corn on the cob
16 oz. can black beans
1/2 cup butter
2 tbsp. granulated chicken bouillon...

1 tsp. coarse black pepper
1/2 - 1 cup flour
2 cups heavy whipping cream
2 qt. milk
6 green onions, diced
Instructions
Chop bacon into bite-size pieces.  In a large pot saute bacon until almost crisp. Add diced yellow onion and cook for 1 minute.

Peel and cut carrots, add to pot and cook for 1 - 2 minutes.  Clean and remove seeds from the red bell peppers. Chop and add vegetables.  Cut corn from the cobs and add to pot.  Fold in drained black beans.  Saute until the corn begins to brown on the edges. Remove vegetables from pot.

Add butter to the pot, and with a whisk fold in chicken bouillon, pepper and flour. Cook until the butter is absorbed. Slowly add cream and continue to cook. Stir in milk for desired soup consistency and add vegetables. 

Top each serving with diced green onions.

*TIP - the soup will thicken after cooking. Thin with more milk or chicken broth when reheating.  

Recipe by The Enchanted Rose

Creamy Chicken Vegetable Soup

1# boneless chicken breasts, skinned & boneless
6c Swanson Chicken Broth
1 packet Swanson Chicken Boost
5 Stalks celery, sliced
2 bunches (w/green top) carrots, sliced
1 large sweet onion, chopped...

3/4t ground sage
1/4t pepper
1t Kosher salt
3/4c Arborio Rice, uncooked
1c heavy Cream
2T cornstarch + 2T cold water
Instructions

Cut chicken breasts into cubes. Pour 1T olive oil into a hot shallow pan and let heat. Add the chicken and cook until done.

Slice the carrots and celery and chop the onion. Pour 1T olive oil into a Dutch oven and heat until hot. Add the vegetables and sauté until softened and partially transparent – about 10 minutes. Do not brown.

Add the cooked chicken to the vegetables. Pour in the 6 cups of Chicken Broth and the packet of Swanson Chicken Broth. Stir. Add the sage, pepper and kosher salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cover. Simmer 15-20 minutes. Add the Arborio Rice, stir and cover. Simmer another 15-20 minutes. Test for doneness of the rice and seasonings. Adjust.  Stir in the heavy cream (whipping cream works well). Bring to a boil.

Make a slurry of the cornstarch and cold water, stirring well until all the cornstarch is dissolved. Add the slurry, slowly to the pot, stirring well. Reduce heat and simmer about 3 minutes. Soup is ready to serve.

Our Heart's Affection

Music can help us express the way we feel about God.

The heart at which [music] has been created is the heart that it affects.  – Brian Houston, Founding pastor of Hillsong Church

On February 19, 1964, families across America huddled around a black-and-white television set, watching four young British men and their new band, The Beatles, change the world with their new
music. Not only did they take the attention off anyone else and put it on them, they won the affection of millions of teenagers around the world. Was it their haircuts? Their outfits? Their British accents? Well, yes...
 in part; but ultimately, it was their music.

It may have been 50 years ago, but that moment in music demonstrates how music can alter or express the way we feel and have an emotional impact. And it happens in lots of areas—we have feelings of patriotism when we sing our national anthem, and some of us get choked up whenever we sing Amazing Grace. Researchers have found that most people have little trouble identifying the basic emotional character of the music that they hear. No matter the culture, we can easily distinguish music that sounds happy and cheerful from music that sounds sad or brooding; however, the exact relationship between music and the emotions is more complex and is still an area of great debate and question.

The point is, that while we may not know why, most of us know and have experienced how music alters the way we move, think and feel. The bigger question for us then is how does God use music as it relates to our hearts? Maybe it is answered in this poem:

“For the common things of everyday

God gave man speech in the common way

For higher things men think and feel

God gave man poets, their words to reveal,

For the heights and depths no soul can reach

God gave man music, the soul’s own speech.”

—Anonymous

READ and THINK… What does the Bible say?

Throughout this series, we’ve visited the Psalms, a collection of songs and prayers that express the range of human experience.

Question: Who gives victory and strength? Why does that lead to song?

Psalm 118:14-15 (New Living Translation)

¹⁴ The LORD is my strength and my song; he has given me victory. Songs of joy and victory are sung in the camp of the godly. ¹⁵The strong right arm of the Lord has done glorious things!

Answer:

Knowledge is good, but there is a vast difference between “knowledge” (having the facts) and “wisdom” (applying those facts to life). We may amass knowledge, but without wisdom, our knowledge is useless. The wisest man who ever lived, Solomon, left us a legacy of written wisdom in Proverbs giving practical insights and guidelines for life.

Question: What happens as a result of a heart given to God? (Sidenote: Think about how this ties in with the multiply mindset we talked about last week and how when we give, God multiplies!

Proverbs 23:26 (New Living Translation)

My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways.

Answer:

LIVE… What will you do now?

Think of a recent time you turned on some music. What was happening at the time? Was it happiness so you wanted it on? Was it sadness and you were trying to find answers or comfort? How do you best communicate and express what’s really in your heart to God? If this is an area where you are stuck or not sure, what role can music play to open your heart up to God again?

David, and the other writers, in Psalms honestly poured out their true feelings, reflecting a dynamic, powerful, and life-changing friendship with God. The psalmists confessed their sins, expressed their doubts and fears, asked God for help in times of trouble, and offered Him praise and worship through song. Has this been your view of how worship music can work in your relationship with God? Why or why not?

If you had to list the top 3 things that have your hearts affection today, who or what would they be? What do the verses from today remind us of when it comes to this list?

PRAY… God, what do you want me to know and do?

Try singing this as your prayer today:

“Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,

That saved a wretch like me,

I once was lost, but now am found,

Was blind, but now I see.”

Digging Deeper with this week’s teaching pastor:

Click here to go deeper using the Life Group DVD by the teaching pastor or view the message, including bonus discussion questions.

Thank you for reading today’s LivingItOut! We encourage you to take it one step further by participating in a Daily Bible Reading plan. There are thousands of individual reading plans available and there is ONE that is just right for you!CLICK HERE to download a basic “Bible in a year” plan. Customizable reading plans available at Youversion.com or Biblegateway.com.

Crock Pot Garlic Chicken

3 to 4 pounds of bone-in chicken pieces (drumsticks, breasts, thighs)

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium sweet onion, sliced
8 large garlic cloves, halved
several sprigs fresh thyme...

1 cup dry white wine (Sauvignon Blanc is good)
1/3 cup all-purpose flour

Instructions

Season the chicken with salt and pepper. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium- high heat. Cook the chicken, skin-side-down, until the skin turns golden brown (about 4 minutes).

Combine the onion, garlic and thyme in a 5 to 6-quart slow cooker and season with salt and pepper. Top with chicken, skin-side-up.

In a small bowl, whisk together wine and flour until smooth and pour it over the chicken and into the slow cooker.

Cover and cook until the chicken is tender- 3 1/2 hours on HIGH or 7 hours on LOW. Serve chicken topped with sauce.  Serves 3-4

Serve over rice, couscous, polenta or potatoes.

Dark Chocolate and Pumpkin Swirl Cake

Nonstick cooking spray

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons Pumpkin Pie Spice
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar...

1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup canned pumpkin
3 ounces dark chocolate, melted
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon finely shredded orange peel
2 tablespoons milk or orange juice

Cake

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9x5-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray. Line bottom of pan with parchment paper and coat the parchment paper with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.

In a medium bowl whisk together eggs and sugar. Add melted butter, buttermilk, and vanilla. Whisk until combined. Fold in pumpkin.

Add the wet ingredients all at once to the dry ingredients and whisk just until no lumps remain.

Divide batter in half. Add the melted chocolate and cocoa powder to half of the batter; stir to combine.

Add the two batters to the loaf pan, alternating between pumpkin and chocolate. Using a table knife, swirl through the batter.

Bake for 55 to 65 minutes until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Remove and cool in pan for 20 minutes. Remove and cool completely on a wire rack.

In a small bowl stir together the powdered sugar, half of the orange peel, and enough of the orange juice to make of drizzling consistency. Spoon over cooled loaf. Top with remaining orange peel.  (12 SERVINGS)

Crepes for Dessert

4 eggs
3 cups milk
1 tsp salt
2 cups flour
hazelnut spread...

sliced bananas
whipped cream

Instructions

With hand mixer, beat eggs, milk, flour and salt, until fairly smooth.  Pour about 1/3 - 1//2 cup of batter into hot, lightly buttered 8-inch griddle.  Cook both sides and stack on serving plate. Butter griddle as needed.  

Prepare filling and topping: sliced bananas, hazelnut topping in piping tube and whipped cream. Spread hazelnut topping down center of crepe, top with bananas, fold over and top with whipped cream.

OPTIONS: steamed, sliced apples, with caramel sauce or any fresh or cooked berries

Cheesy Onion Rolls

2 cups very warm water1/4 cup potato flakes (instant mashed potatoes)

2 tablespoons yeast (instant, fast rising)

1/2 cup sugar

1 tablespoon salt

2 eggs beaten

1/2 cup butter (or margarine)...

6 - 6 1/2 cups flour

Filling

2 tablespoons butter, melted

3 cups Cheddar cheese, shredded

1 medium onion, thinly sliced

2 tablespoons poppy seeds

1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)

1/2 cup mayonnaise

Instructions

Stir together the water, potato flakes and sugar.  Add eggs, softened butter, and yeast mixed with 3 cups flour.  Beat with mixer on high speed.  Add remaining flour 1/2 cup at a time until a soft but knead-able dough is formed.  Knead well.  Place in a greased bowl.  Cover and let rise until doubled in bulk. (About an hour in a warm place.)  Punch down dough, and divide in half.

Roll each half out to form a 16 x 12 inch rectangle.  Brush each piece with half the melted butter; sprinkle each rectangle with half the cheese and poppy seeds.  Beat egg, and brush lightly over long edges.  Starting at one long side, roll up tightly, pinching seam to seal.  Cut thick slices (about 1 1/2") and place on parchment lined baking sheet about 2 inches apart.  Press buns to flatten to about 3/4" thick.  Cover and let rise in warm place until doubled in size (about 1 hour).  Brush lightly with beaten egg.  Top each roll with onion slices.  Add a dollop of mayonnaise on top of each bun (about 1 teaspoon).  

Bake at 350°F for about 25 minutes or until golden brown.  Cool on racks.  Recipe by Judy from the Mennonite Girls Can Cook  Yield: 20 large cheesy onion rolls

Herb Baked Eggs

1/4 teaspoon minced fresh garlic

1/4 teaspoon minced fresh thyme leaves

1/4 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary leaves

1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley

1 tablespoon freshly grated Parmesan

6 extra-large eggs...

2 tablespoons heavy cream

1 tablespoon unsalted butter

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Toasted French bread or brioche, for serving

Preheat the broiler for 5 minutes and place the oven rack 6 inches below the heat.

Combine the garlic, thyme, rosemary, parsley, and Parmesan and set aside. Carefully crack 3 eggs into each of 2 small bowls or teacups (you won't be baking them in these) without breaking the yolks. (It's very important to have all the eggs ready to go before you start cooking.)

Place 2 individual gratin dishes on a baking sheet. Place 1 tablespoon of cream and 1/2 tablespoon of butter in each dish and place under the broiler for about 3 minutes, until hot and bubbly. Quickly, but carefully, pour 3 eggs into each gratin dish and sprinkle evenly with the herb mixture, then sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper. Place back under the broiler for 5 to 6 minutes, until the whites of the eggs are almost cooked. (Rotate the baking sheet once if they aren't cooking evenly.) 

The eggs will continue to cook after you take them out of the oven. Allow to set for 60 seconds and serve hot with toasted bread.

Copyright 2004, Barefoot in Paris

Our Mind's Attention

What is given attention in our mind is the most important thing.

Where is your attention right now? Is it on these words? Is it to your day ahead? The thing you saw in your newsfeed?  Attention is critical. It is the ability to focus on what is relevant and block out the rest. Dr. Henry Cloud in his book “Boundaries for  Leaders” says, “When we pay attention to something, repeatedly, the necessary wiring is formed that makes it possible to learn new things, take the right actions and achieve our...

goals.” 

Mandy Croninger, staff member at CedarCreek, shares how having her attention on hearing Scripture put to music has helped her well into her adult life.  “As a child growing up we always listened to stories called ‘GT and the Halo Express’ when we were riding in the car. I absolutely loved the stories; they were fun and exciting! Little did I know the impact those tapes would have on my life and my brother’s life, forever. The tapes were stories about adventures these children went, or circumstances they faced. Throughout the stories, perfectly woven in, would be scripture verses put to song. Growing up I didn’t really think much of it. I just loved the stories and singing along with the songs. Now I see the great need to know God’s Word and to have it “hidden in your heart”. I thought I was just singing and playing, having no idea the way those songs were putting Scripture directly into my life. Over and over again as an adult, when things aren’t easy or I’m struggling with a choice to make or the words to say to help someone on their journey, Scripture will come to me because of those songs—nevermind the fact that I have to stop myself from singing the Scripture! I am so thankful that as a child God’s Word, His love story to me, was put in my heart. There is nothing better than having God speak to you through Scripture that is already hidden in your heart as a song.”

READ and THINK… What does the Bible say?

The ancient pagan world had different gods for different peoples, different geographical areas, different cosmic regions (heaven, earth, netherworld) and different aspects of life (war, fertility, crafts), but the God of Israel is the only God. He is the one true God, and there is no corner of the universe that is not in His hands.

Question: 

What reason does this verse provide for giving our songs and praise to God?

Psalm 95:1 (New Living Translation)

Come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.

Answer:

Imagine how your thoughts would be changed if you had songs about God’s love, grace, justice and mercy repeating in your mind throughout the day instead of lyrics that are not beneficial. 

Question: 

What does this verse say thinking about God’s instruction throughout the day do for you?

Psalm 119:97-98 (New Living Translation)

⁹⁷ Oh, how I love your instructions! I think about them all day long.⁹⁸ Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are my constant guide.

Answer:

LIVE… What will you do now?

Attention is the ability to focus on what is relevant and block out the rest. Where is your attention spent most days? Is it on what you would consider the most relevant and important things? Why or why not?

Our brain has three main higher processes: 1) attention (ability to focus on what’s relevant), 2) inhibition (ability to filter out what’s not important), and 3) working memory (ability to retain and access relevant information). As Mandy’s story illustrated, the more we hear something the more it becomes a part of our working memory. Is your working memory filled with God’s truth to draw your attention to? If no, what steps can you take to build your “storehouse” to be God’s Word? If it already is, in what way do you think this could make you uniquely positioned to help others give their full attention to God?

When you have lyrics in your head that proclaim the characteristics of God, it reinforces Scripture. How does what we intellectually know about God and His character affect our worship of Him?

PRAY… God, what do you want me to know and do?

Praise God for music! Ask God to help you focus your mind’s attention on His Word. Ask Him to help you find ways to build your “working memory storehouse” with praise songs and Scripture. Make a commitment to Him to memorize one of the Psalms from today or one of your choice.

Digging Deeper with this week’s teaching pastor:

Click here to go deeper using the Life Group DVD by the teaching pastor or view the message, including bonus discussion questions.

Thank you for reading today’s LivingItOut! We encourage you to take it one step further by participating in a Daily Bible Reading plan. There are thousands of individual reading plans available and there is ONE that is just right for you!CLICK HERE to download a basic “Bible in a year” plan. Customizable reading plans available at Youversion.com or Biblegateway.com.