thankful thursday #105

On this holiday Thursday, these things have made me feel thankful:

Sleeping in and waking up to no alarm.  Praise you, Jesus.

A 45-minute walk in the most gorgeous fall weather.  It really was glorious.

Time to read a book.  It was a quick read, but I sure loved having that big chunk of time.

Text messages of gratitude to and from people I love.

Skype.  It is fast becoming a Thanksgiving necessity!

Movies that remind me of our nation's leaders who changed history for the better.  Have you seen Lincoln?  Run to see it.

It has been restful, and peaceful, and we have much for which to be grateful.  It makes for an easy Thankful Thursday in my world.

What about in your world?  Go on, be grateful!  

the chicken and rice soup like crape myrtle's

Crape Myrtle's is a cozy little cafe, randomly attached to a local bookstore here in town. The folks there are casual and friendly, the menu is simple ...

... and their chicken and rice soup is like manna from heaven. (But maybe creamier? I don't know for sure.)

On the rainiest days here in Birmingham, it's the lunch I crave the most. It's just dreamy. That is all I can say.

I recently stumbled on a recipe for chicken and rice soup, and I would never dare to think it might come close to Crape Myrtle's, but I'll be darned, it pretty close to nailed it.

Glory.

The biggest challenge of this recipe is having the foresight to allow about an hour or so to let it simmer. Try it on your next cold, rainy night. The deliciousness factor will not disappoint.

Chicken and Rice Soup Like Crape Myrtle's

2 Tbsp. EVOO
1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed
1 4-oz. can chopped green chilies
32 oz. chicken broth
3/4 c. jasmine rice, uncooked
2 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1 c. heavy cream
4 oz. sour cream

1. Heat olive oil over medium heat in a large soup pot. Cook chicken until browned, about ten minutes.


2. Add chilies, broth, rice, cumin, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Stir well, cover, and simmer on low for about 45 minutes, until rice is cooked. Stir occasionally.


3. Mix in heavy cream and sour cream. Cover and heat on low for 15-20 minutes.


4. Season to taste with salt and pepper, if needed.

second anniversary

Two years ago today, I shared my blog with friends and family, after closet blogging for several weeks.  Frankly, I wasn't sure how long I would keep it up, but as it's turned out, I've quite enjoyed it.

In two years, I've found myself repeating thoughts; blabbering about nothing; or fleshing out in words something that's nested in my brain for too long.

Sometimes I start a post that doesn't ever take flight, and it sits idly in my post queue for a few days, but eventually just gets the axe.

Occasionally I start a post that I should have never started, and that, mercifully, gets deleted within minutes.  I made a promise not to dishonor anyone in the very beginning, and let me tell you a not-so-surprising confession: I've come dangerously close to breaking that promise.

Even still, 278 posts (including this one) have made the cut, and it's been so interesting to me, to see which ones have been the most read over the life of this blog.  In celebration of two years -- and we all know how I feel about a quick stroll down memory lane -- here are the top five most read posts:

So Long Saloon Black Bean Dip (who knew there were so many folks looking for this recipe?)

Meeting Nathan (one of my favorite stories to share)

Thankful Thursdays (a personal attitude shift that has had significant influence on me)

(Small-Town) American Pie (slice of pie, anyone?)

Get Your (Stitch) Fix (it's all the rage)

And here are a couple of my own personal favorites, just for kicks:

To Carter, on the Occasion of Your First

A Chocolate Sheet Cake Offering

Clothed

It's been a good two years.  I hope for greater things to come in the next two, and look forward to sharing a bit of them, right here in my little corner of the world.

Cheers!

thankful thursday #104

The work of Jesus in our hearts is sometimes painful, often humbling, and always miraculous.

On top of those descriptors, I'd add that my personal refining process is slow, gentle when I don't deserve it, and almost undetectable if I'm not really looking for change.

I confess that I'm not all the time diligent, or faithful, to ask Him to show me how He's working.  To reveal to me His new, that's replacing my old.

And sakes alive, I rarely have the eyes to see it anyway.

But as it goes with my Jesus, He is faithful to give me glimpses.  Some days He'll drop me into a scenario to which I naturally respond -- a test of sorts, but one I don't know I'm taking -- and I respond in a way that I know is not of me.

It's His creative way of spotlighting for me a work He's accomplishing for His glory.

And when He does, it reassures me.  It gives me hope.  It makes me thankful.

I had one of those moments today, where the reply came from a place I can't say I knew not so long ago, and I could feel nothing more than gratitude.

Not because I'm better, but because I'm changed.

Do you appreciate the evidence of change when it lands in your lap?  Go on, be grateful!

hello monday (new blue)

An ideal weekend for me includes a little lazing mixed in with a little productivity. It's a hard balance, but if, come Monday morning, I feel refreshed and have something to show for my time at home, that is a good weekend.

This weekend afforded me both, but Monday morning is literally raining on my parade, so how about some hellos to start this rainy week?

------------------------------------

Hello, before and after. Jazz Club is making a bold statement, I'd say.

------------------------------------

Hello, weekend food frenzy. How many calories did you say I consumed this weekend? Oh.

------------------------------------

Hello, new sofa. I'm glad to finally meet you, and I look forward to many, many years together.

------------------------------------

Hello, furniture rearranging. Quite the back-breaker, you are.

------------------------------------

Hello, Thanksgiving in just ten days.  (How did that happen?)

------------------------------------

Hello, Christmas shopping.  Let's get you knocked out asap, okay?

Happy Monday, folks.  Get out and greet the week!

thankful thursday #103

Last spring, Nikol took me with her to a show choir performance of some of the high school girls from church that she mentors.

I am not ashamed to admit that I am just nerdy enough to feel genuine excitement about such a performance, and let me tell you, it was glorious.

There was something about single thirty-somethings, sitting in a high school theater, and observing high school student dynamics that made for spectacular entertainment. The giggle boxes got turned over, and there was no going back.

Regardless of our comedic commentary, though, the girls did do a great job ...

... and invited us to another show choir event.

Today I got a break from my routine, and had the chance to support our own little cast of real-life Glee. How can that not make me happy? And grateful, for young people's talents?

What out-of-the-ordinary something might you be appreciating today? Go on, be grateful!

cheese sauce, please

Do you remember when some beat-down parent, who was tired of forcing their child to eat broccoli, caved and offered to dump drizzle cheese sauce on top?

I don't.

We just ate what was prepared, vegetables and all.  And there was no cheese sauce on the table to make broccoli more tolerable.

But a cheese sauce-based casserole will always be close to my heart, because of my crazy love of cheese, so this recipe naturally intrigued me.

The original is from Sunset magazine's November 2008 issue, but the original also serves 12-14 people, and let's be honest, that's not conducive to cooking for one.  This version is adapted to serve a more reasonable number, say, 4-6:

Gorgonzola Broccoli Casserole

1 bag broccoli florets (in the steam bag)
2 Tbsp. butter, melted
1/8 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. milk
3 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/4 c. gorgonzola (or other blue) cheese
1 c. panko bread crumbs
EVOO

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.


2. Steam broccoli according to package instructions.


3. Melt butter in saucepan over medium heat.  Whisk in flour and salt, and cook until bubbly, about 1 minute.


4. Add milk and cook, stirring, over medium-high heat until boiling and thickened, about 3 minutes.


5. Add cheeses, and whisk until smooth. Stir in broccoli, and pour into a small casserole (1 1/2 quart, or an 8 x 8 would probably also work).


6. In a small bowl, mix panko bread crumbs with 1-2 tablespoons of EVOO, to create a crumble topping.  Sprinkle evenly over top of casserole. 


7. Bake until crumbs are golden, and casserole bubbles around edge, about 20-25 minutes.

And a couple of personal notes ...

• If you're not pumped about casseroles, this could definitely be a stand alone cheese sauce to serve aside vegetables.  Or for chicken.  Yummy.


• If you're not into blue cheeses, shame on you.  But I think Parmesan might be an inferior alternative.


• I'm also thinking this might have potential as a full-meal casserole, if you added some diced cooked chicken to the mix, and maybe doubled the sauce portion of the recipe.

Did you (do you?) require cheese sauce for your broccoli?

hello monday (daylight savings)

Are you surviving the time change? I personally enjoy the sunshine greeting me in the mornings, but the number of complaints I've heard from others in just 24 hours is a little bit much.

Come on, people. Lighten up (no pun intended)! How about some hellos to kick off this week of daylight savings?

------------------------------------

Hello, book recommendation, compliments of my lovely coworker.

(I'm looking forward to seeing what you highlighted in here.)

------------------------------------

Hello, new voting location. Will your lines be super long first thing in the morning?

------------------------------------

Hello, Brownsville friend coming to visiting this week!

Your Birmingham Belles look forward to hosting you.

------------------------------------

Hello, bottomless Halloween candy bowl. Enough already.

------------------------------------

Hello, navy paint samples.

You are so similar, but one of you will prevail. Eventually.

------------------------------------

Hello, upcoming weekend at home.  I am so very happy to see you.

Don't let the time change make you cranky.  Make it a great week!

thankful thursday #102

Tuesday is Election Day.

Like many people, I am annoyed by the mudslinging campaign tactics, the seemingly pointless debates, and the division that rears its ugly head throughout this home of the brave.

Like many people, I feel like politics are over my head, the issues are too complex, and the average American could never make a truly informed decision, no matter how intelligent he or she is. 

Like many people, I shamefully wonder if my vote even matters, if there's any leader on the ballot whom I would trust if I knew them personally, and if it isn't all a waste anyway.

It would seem as though today I'd be thankful that in one week, this election will be over.

In the end, though, no matter who is elected President, I'm grateful that we are assured that God sets kings in their kingdoms:

"Praise be to the name of God forever and ever; wisdom and power are his.
He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them."
-- Daniel 2:20-21

If we believe in the perfect sovereignty of God, we have to acknowledge that whichever candidate is voted into office, his power has been divinely ordained.

We might not like it, we may disagree with every decision he makes, and at some point, we will insist that our way would be better.

We may feel like there is no hope for our country.  And maybe that's true.

But I would suggest that our hope should never be in our country, or any elected official, or any political agenda, but in our Lord, who is meticulously working out the redemption of His people, and using every elected official to do so.

I certainly do not have all the answers, or understand every issue at hand.  What I do know, is that I have been born into a country where people have died for my freedom, and fought for my right to have a say.

So I will vote on Tuesday, and be confident that God will use that vote to accomplish His purposes in this chapter of His great story.

Are you able to be thankful in the midst of political division?  Go on, be grateful!